Cost of Living Comparison Between Suwaylih and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Suwaylih and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $697 per month in Suwaylih vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,246 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,795 per month in Suwaylih vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Suwaylih is about 20% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Suwaylih and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Suwaylih 48% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.94 JOD 4.91
$1.98 ฿65.1
250.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.48 JOD 35.02
$18.80 ฿620
163.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.32 JOD 4.47
$7.75 ฿255
-18.45%
Cappuccino
$0.68 JOD 0.48
$1.92 ฿63.2
-64.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 JOD 0.29
$0.79 ฿26.09
-48.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 JOD 0.16
$0.36 ฿11.75
-38.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 JOD 4.01
$2.21 ฿72.9
156.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 JOD 4.86
$3.66 ฿121
87.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$1.65 ฿54.5
-12.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.33 JOD 0.24
$1.63 ฿53.8
-79.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 JOD 1.21
$1.19 ฿39.31
43.70%
Eggs
$2.57 JOD 1.82
$2.00 ฿65.8
28.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.79 JOD 4.10
$15.98 ฿526
-63.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 JOD 2.18
$3.03 ฿99.7
1.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 JOD 6.79
$10.86 ฿358
-11.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 JOD 1.40
$2.76 ฿91.0
-28.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$1.18 ฿38.87
22.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 JOD 0.97
$1.64 ฿54.1
-16.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 JOD 0.51
$1.52 ฿50.1
-52.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 JOD 0.62
$1.38 ฿45.63
-36.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 JOD 0.48
$1.19 ฿39.29
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 JOD 0.46
$0.70 ฿23.13
-7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 JOD 0.29
$0.56 ฿18.34
-26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48 JOD 2.46
$4.58 ฿151
-24.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.76 JOD 14.69
$16.56 ฿546
25.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.80 JOD 3.40
$1.83 ฿60.2
162.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 JOD 3.83
$3.20 ฿105
69.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 JOD 0.48
$0.88 ฿28.90
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.72 ฿617
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 JOD 0.24
$1.36 ฿44.68
-75.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 JOD 0.99
$1.34 ฿44.16
4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.13 JOD 5.04
$7.84 ฿258
-9.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 JOD 1.01
$1.23 ฿40.39
15.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K JOD 19.0K
$21.6K ฿712.5K
24.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K JOD 22.7K
$22.5K ฿742.9K
42.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.31 JOD 24.99
$70.5 ฿2,324
-49.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.97 JOD 12.01
$13.68 ฿451
24.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56 JOD 20.21
$17.45 ฿575
63.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.99 JOD 30.42
$41.33 ฿1,362
4.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46 JOD 15.19
$6.96 ฿229
208.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.32 JOD 8.01
$5.77 ฿190
96.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 JOD 197
$307 ฿10.1K
-9.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,375 JOD 3,804
$14.6K ฿481.4K
-63.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 JOD 25.44
$55.8 ฿1,838
-35.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 JOD 19.06
$26.21 ฿864
2.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 JOD 49.96
$85.8 ฿2,825
-17.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4 JOD 50.5
$72.2 ฿2,380
-1.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$140 JOD 99.2
$430 ฿14.2K
-67.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 JOD 78.7
$239 ฿7,865
-53.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$415 JOD 294
$817 ฿26.9K
-49.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 JOD 252
$511 ฿16.8K
-30.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$981 JOD 694
$1,983 ฿65.3K
-50.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$899 JOD 636
$1,484 ฿48.9K
-39.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwaylih
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$776 JOD 549
$619 ฿20.4K
25.39%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Suwaylih versus $430 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 25% 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 $49.00 in Suwaylih versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Suwaylih vs $241 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 25% 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 $1,045 per month in Suwaylih and $1,303 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 $49.00 in Suwaylih and $19.00 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 14% 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 $697 in Suwaylih and $869 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 $697 versus $869 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.

Suwaylih vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities