🙂A single person spends $702 per month in Suwaylih vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,250 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,799 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Suwaylih is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Suwaylih and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Suwaylih48% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19JOD 5.10
$1.95฿62.8
268.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.53JOD 35.12
$18.43฿594
168.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.22JOD 4.41
$7.50฿241
-17.07%
Cappuccino
$0.73JOD 0.52
$1.93฿62.3
-62.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40JOD 0.29
$0.78฿25.08
-48.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20JOD 0.14
$0.32฿10.42
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62JOD 3.99
$2.15฿69.2
161.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24JOD 5.13
$3.71฿120
95.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37JOD 0.97
$1.71฿55.2
-19.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.36JOD 0.26
$1.56฿50.3
-76.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64JOD 1.16
$1.18฿38.06
38.98%
Eggs
$2.48JOD 1.76
$1.98฿63.9
25.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.65JOD 4.01
$16.04฿517
-64.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06JOD 2.17
$3.17฿102
-3.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.72JOD 6.89
$10.94฿353
-11.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99JOD 1.41
$2.63฿84.7
-24.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38JOD 0.98
$1.17฿37.61
17.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42JOD 1.01
$1.65฿53.0
-13.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$1.54฿49.51
-55.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92JOD 0.65
$1.38฿44.34
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70JOD 0.50
$1.17฿37.54
-40.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$0.66฿21.25
-1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41JOD 0.29
$0.51฿16.55
-19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43JOD 2.43
$4.52฿146
-24.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.76JOD 14.72
$18.32฿590
13.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61JOD 3.27
$1.80฿57.9
156.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56JOD 3.94
$3.18฿102
74.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$0.90฿28.97
-24.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00฿612
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$1.41฿45.50
-75.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37JOD 0.97
$1.31฿42.15
4.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86JOD 4.86
$8.09฿261
-15.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$1.28฿41.08
8.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KJOD 19.6K
$21.3K฿686.1K
29.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KJOD 23.1K
$21.7K฿699.3K
50.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.18JOD 24.94
$69.2฿2,230
-49.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.66JOD 11.81
$13.97฿450
19.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.97JOD 19.83
$17.95฿578
55.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.22JOD 29.93
$42.31฿1,363
-0.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.02JOD 14.91
$6.66฿214
215.62%
Cinema Ticket
$11.14JOD 7.90
$5.92฿191
88.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271JOD 192
$299฿9,640
-9.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,450JOD 3,864
$14.8K฿478.4K
-63.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92JOD 25.47
$56.2฿1,810
-36.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71JOD 18.94
$26.94฿868
-0.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9JOD 50.3
$84.9฿2,735
-16.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3JOD 49.15
$71.8฿2,314
-3.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$143JOD 101
$435฿14.0K
-67.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114JOD 80.6
$240฿7,727
-52.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423JOD 300
$798฿25.7K
-46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353JOD 250
$498฿16.1K
-29.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$987JOD 699
$1,995฿64.3K
-50.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$900JOD 638
$1,532฿49.4K
-41.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$782JOD 554
$628฿20.2K
24.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
5
45.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suwaylih: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $143 in Suwaylih versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 24% higher in Suwaylih, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Suwaylih versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Suwaylih vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Suwaylih wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Suwaylih vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Suwaylih, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Suwaylih vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Suwaylih and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Suwaylih, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Suwaylih vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Suwaylih and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Suwaylih and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Suwaylih costs $702 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Suwaylih compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Suwaylih or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Suwaylih. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.