Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taree and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,279 in Taree, rent and utilities included – about $16,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taree, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Taree
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,279
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taree and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taree and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,279 per month in Taree vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Taree $2,279
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $3,484 per month in Taree vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Taree $3,484
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $4,688 per month in Taree vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Taree $4,688
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Taree costs about 144% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Taree sits 67% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50 A$24.80
$2.24 ฿75.5
681.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5 A$120
$19.00 ฿640
344.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 A$14.80
$5.55 ฿187
88.29%
Cappuccino
$3.92 A$5.55
$1.67 ฿56.4
134.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 A$4.01
$0.64 ฿21.51
342.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 A$3.18
$0.31 ฿10.29
625.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.49 A$10.61
$2.36 ฿79.5
217.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40 A$10.48
$3.66 ฿123
102.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 A$1.73
$1.95 ฿65.7
-37.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 A$2.13
$1.44 ฿48.41
4.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 A$1.16
$1.33 ฿44.97
-38.35%
Eggs
$3.75 A$5.31
$2.28 ฿77.0
64.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.18 A$11.59
$16.45 ฿554
-50.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.97 A$9.87
$2.78 ฿93.8
150.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.35 A$23.16
$9.31 ฿314
75.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 A$4.00
$2.35 ฿79.3
20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.42
$0.97 ฿32.75
149.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 A$2.21
$1.60 ฿53.8
-2.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 A$5.34
$1.50 ฿50.6
151.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.30
$1.28 ฿43.06
82.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 A$2.43
$1.10 ฿37.14
55.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 A$3.52
$0.71 ฿23.79
249.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 A$2.71
$0.49 ฿16.34
289.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.16 A$42.73
$4.14 ฿140
628.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 A$10.88
$17.52 ฿590
-56.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 A$3.48
$1.61 ฿54.4
52.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 A$7.56
$2.78 ฿93.8
92.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 A$4.13
$0.87 ฿29.27
235.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.4 A$112
$54.1 ฿1,823
46.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 A$5.39
$1.16 ฿39.00
227.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 A$1.99
$0.53 ฿17.78
166.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.70 A$59.1
$2.42 ฿81.6
1623.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 A$1.92
$1.45 ฿48.82
-6.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K A$37.6K
$21.1K ฿709.7K
25.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K A$33.0K
$26.9K ฿907.9K
-13.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 A$267
$62.2 ฿2,095
202.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.52 A$37.57
$12.17 ฿410
117.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.64 A$70.3
$20.12 ฿678
146.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 A$86.8
$37.31 ฿1,257
64.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.35 A$28.82
$3.77 ฿127
439.79%
Cinema Ticket
$12.62 A$17.88
$6.49 ฿219
94.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,143 A$3,035
$736 ฿24.8K
191.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.7K A$27.9K
$14.8K ฿497.6K
33.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 A$94.2
$53.4 ฿1,799
24.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0 A$76.5
$24.64 ฿830
119.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 A$156
$91.5 ฿3,083
20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 A$157
$71.9 ฿2,424
53.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,356 A$1,921
$482 ฿16.3K
181.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 A$1,548
$309 ฿10.4K
253.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,041 A$2,891
$1,006 ฿33.9K
102.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 A$2,805
$633 ฿21.3K
212.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,712 A$8,092
$2,363 ฿79.6K
141.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,850 A$6,871
$1,589 ฿53.6K
205.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taree
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,929 A$4,150
$590 ฿19.9K
396.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.57
5.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Taree: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taree
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$309 71.7% $784
Eating Out
Taree
$291
Chiang Mai
$78 73.3% $213
Groceries & Markets
Taree
$289
Chiang Mai
$234 19% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taree
$264
Chiang Mai
$94 64.3% $170
Clothing & Footwear
Taree
$153
Chiang Mai
$109 29.2% $45
Getting Around
Taree
$102
Chiang Mai
$61 39.8% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Taree
$87
Chiang Mai
$50 41.9% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,356 in Taree versus $482 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 in Taree are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84 in Taree versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Taree
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
19:35 7:35 PM
15:35 3:35 PM
4 h behind Taree
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,110
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.706 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.633 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taree Chiang Mai 8,010 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taree
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Taree vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taree or Chiang Mai?
Taree costs about 144% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Taree and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,419 per month in Taree and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Taree or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,356 in Taree.
How do childcare costs compare in Taree and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,143 per month in Taree and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Taree or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Taree, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Taree or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,279 in Taree and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Taree compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Taree or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taree makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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