😐A single person spends $1,151 per month in Tacarigua vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,019 per month in Tacarigua vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,886 per month in Tacarigua vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tacarigua costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tacarigua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tacarigua14% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.38TTD 69.5
$1.94฿63.5
435.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.0TTD 603
$18.64฿609
382.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.56TTD 43.98
$7.82฿255
-16.11%
Cappuccino
$2.88TTD 19.28
$1.95฿63.8
47.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01TTD 6.79
$0.85฿27.77
18.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71TTD 4.75
$0.35฿11.58
102.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.00TTD 6.71
$2.13฿69.6
-53.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03TTD 20.28
$3.73฿122
-18.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87TTD 12.55
$1.71฿56.0
9.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61TTD 10.80
$1.63฿53.2
-1.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.67TTD 17.92
$1.14฿37.15
134.21%
Eggs
$3.58TTD 24.01
$1.93฿63.1
85.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.76TTD 25.22
$16.21฿530
-76.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.74TTD 25.03
$3.12฿102
19.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.25TTD 95.5
$10.90฿356
30.73%
Apples(1kg)
$5.81TTD 38.92
$2.75฿90.0
111.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61TTD 10.78
$1.21฿39.52
33.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.39TTD 29.39
$1.62฿53.0
170.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.78TTD 31.99
$1.59฿51.8
200.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93TTD 6.24
$1.40฿45.70
-33.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46TTD 3.09
$1.17฿38.17
-60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51TTD 10.15
$0.66฿21.60
128.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40TTD 9.39
$0.53฿17.22
164.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79TTD 38.80
$4.69฿153
23.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42TTD 123
$18.66฿609
-1.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13TTD 14.28
$1.80฿58.8
18.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82TTD 18.87
$3.23฿106
-12.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00TTD 6.73
$0.90฿29.26
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01TTD 6.77
$1.41฿45.91
-28.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24TTD 8.30
$1.29฿42.12
-3.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.72TTD 98.6
$7.84฿256
87.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46TTD 3.08
$1.27฿41.58
-63.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9KTTD 227.3K
$21.3K฿694.9K
59.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KTTD 215.3K
$22.2K฿725.4K
44.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.1TTD 537
$69.1฿2,256
16.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.20TTD 316
$14.08฿460
235.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.74TTD 246
$18.00฿588
104.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7TTD 353
$41.06฿1,341
28.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.30TTD 48.93
$5.92฿193
23.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325TTD 2,174
$299฿9,766
8.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,108TTD 47.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-52.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.05TTD 201
$54.7฿1,787
-45.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.81TTD 200
$26.77฿874
11.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5TTD 499
$85.0฿2,776
-12.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.75TTD 300
$70.6฿2,306
-36.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367TTD 2,461
$237฿7,752
54.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$889TTD 5,955
$515฿16.8K
72.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tacarigua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Tacarigua versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $246 – 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 33% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,727 per month in Tacarigua and $1,300 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Tacarigua 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 Tacarigua or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% 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 Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,151 in Tacarigua and $866 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 $866 versus $1,151 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 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.