🙂A single person spends $503 per month in Ta Khmau vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $792 per month in Ta Khmau vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,081 per month in Ta Khmau vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ta Khmau is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Ta Khmau and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ta Khmau64% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.55៛10.3K
$2.10฿69.3
21.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.34៛98.5K
$19.84฿656
22.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85៛27.7K
$5.79฿191
18.31%
Cappuccino
$1.65៛6,686
$1.83฿60.4
-9.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67៛2,701
$0.78฿25.61
-14.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46៛1,844
$0.31฿10.37
48.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98៛3,964
$2.34฿77.2
-58.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01៛8,158
$3.70฿122
-45.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14៛8,655
$2.03฿67.1
5.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64៛6,649
$1.60฿52.7
2.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08៛4,389
$1.42฿46.75
-23.94%
Eggs
$1.65៛6,665
$2.18฿71.9
-24.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.04៛56.8K
$15.91฿526
-11.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.62៛10.6K
$3.07฿102
-14.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11៛36.9K
$9.87฿326
-7.70%
Apples(1kg)
$4.03៛16.3K
$2.63฿86.8
53.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26៛5,122
$1.10฿36.19
14.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.84៛15.6K
$1.63฿53.8
135.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08៛4,387
$1.53฿50.6
-29.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27៛5,162
$1.24฿41.13
2.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12៛4,544
$1.13฿37.37
-0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14៛4,630
$0.74฿24.38
54.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72៛2,935
$0.50฿16.48
44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54៛6,232
$4.28฿141
-64.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64៛30.9K
$17.97฿594
-57.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96៛3,898
$1.70฿56.1
-43.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73៛7,009
$2.90฿95.7
-40.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10៛4,439
$1.23฿40.76
-10.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98៛3,973
$0.53฿17.66
84.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.13៛20.8K
$2.40฿79.3
113.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25៛5,048
$1.44฿47.55
-13.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K៛100.0M
$21.2K฿700.2K
16.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K៛89.4M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-19.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107៛435.0K
$64.9฿2,145
65.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.03៛24.4K
$13.35฿441
-54.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.27៛57.8K
$20.83฿688
-31.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.13៛20.8K
$6.71฿222
-23.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283៛1.1M
$787฿26.0K
-64.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,367៛17.7M
$15.1K฿499.6K
-71.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.49៛107.3K
$56.2฿1,858
-52.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.44៛54.4K
$24.95฿824
-46.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9៛278.9K
$92.7฿3,063
-25.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.34៛179.6K
$75.1฿2,482
-40.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ta Khmau
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.07
5.57
44.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ta Khmau: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Ta Khmau versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Ta Khmau vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Ta Khmau 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
Ta Khmau vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ta Khmau or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Ta Khmau, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Ta Khmau and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $754 per month in Ta Khmau and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Ta Khmau and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Ta Khmau and $20.00 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 Ta Khmau or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 9% 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 $2,000/month in Ta Khmau or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ta Khmau, where all-in costs run around $503, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ta Khmau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ta Khmau or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ta Khmau costs $503 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ta Khmau 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 Ta Khmau or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ta Khmau. 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.