😐A single person spends $1,153 per month in Tacarigua vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,001 per month in Tacarigua vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,849 per month in Tacarigua vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tacarigua costs about 34% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tacarigua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tacarigua14% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.48TTD 70.6
$1.96฿65.9
434.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4TTD 589
$18.35฿617
376.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.55TTD 44.16
$7.48฿252
-12.43%
Cappuccino
$3.03TTD 20.44
$2.02฿67.8
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00TTD 6.74
$0.85฿28.52
17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72TTD 4.85
$0.36฿11.97
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05TTD 7.04
$2.14฿71.9
-50.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19TTD 21.50
$3.59฿121
-11.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95TTD 13.13
$1.65฿55.5
18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60TTD 10.78
$1.57฿52.7
1.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62TTD 17.64
$1.19฿40.05
120.17%
Eggs
$3.57TTD 24.04
$1.94฿65.1
84.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.74TTD 25.23
$16.19฿545
-76.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.68TTD 24.78
$2.99฿101
23.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.18TTD 95.6
$10.94฿368
29.62%
Apples(1kg)
$5.71TTD 38.50
$2.71฿91.2
110.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66TTD 11.15
$1.17฿39.27
41.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21TTD 28.38
$1.69฿56.8
149.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65TTD 31.33
$1.60฿54.0
190.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00TTD 6.72
$1.38฿46.56
-27.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45TTD 3.04
$1.20฿40.47
-62.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46TTD 9.87
$0.67฿22.51
117.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41TTD 9.53
$0.56฿18.74
151.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75TTD 38.78
$4.64฿156
23.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.08TTD 129
$17.62฿593
8.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14TTD 14.40
$1.86฿62.6
15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83TTD 19.07
$3.30฿111
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06TTD 7.12
$0.88฿29.70
20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00TTD 6.75
$1.36฿45.92
-26.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21TTD 8.19
$1.34฿45.00
-9.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.51TTD 97.8
$8.21฿276
76.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.42TTD 2.86
$1.22฿41.20
-65.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KTTD 224.9K
$21.4K฿718.5K
56.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KTTD 217.5K
$22.5K฿758.1K
43.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.3TTD 541
$70.7฿2,378
13.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.50TTD 313
$14.04฿472
231.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.75TTD 248
$17.49฿589
110.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.8TTD 342
$42.15฿1,418
20.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.61TTD 51.3
$5.92฿199
28.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$327TTD 2,205
$309฿10.4K
6.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,296TTD 49.2K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-50.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.83TTD 201
$55.8฿1,876
-46.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.35TTD 198
$26.11฿879
12.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7TTD 490
$83.0฿2,793
-12.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.20TTD 305
$70.5฿2,371
-35.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371TTD 2,498
$239฿8,040
55.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$889TTD 5,990
$512฿17.2K
73.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
5
7.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tacarigua: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Tacarigua versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Tacarigua vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tacarigua or Chiang Mai?
Tacarigua costs about 34% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Tacarigua and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,729 per month in Tacarigua and $1,292 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 Tacarigua and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Tacarigua 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 Tacarigua or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Tacarigua, 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 $800/month in Tacarigua or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,153 in Tacarigua and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tacarigua or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,153 in Tacarigua. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tacarigua 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 Tacarigua or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tacarigua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.