🙂A single person spends $363 per month in Tarhuna vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $566 per month in Tarhuna vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $770 per month in Tarhuna vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tarhuna is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tarhuna and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tarhuna74% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06LYD 25.62
$2.10฿69.3
93.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.86LYD 93.8
$19.84฿656
-25.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.46LYD 15.51
$5.79฿191
-57.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.62LYD 3.90
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61LYD 3.85
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.46LYD 2.92
$1.83฿60.4
-74.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45LYD 2.85
$0.78฿25.61
-42.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11LYD 0.71
$0.31฿10.37
-64.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.34฿77.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.70฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97LYD 6.10
$2.03฿67.1
-52.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20LYD 1.26
$1.60฿52.7
-87.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13LYD 7.12
$1.42฿46.75
-20.42%
Eggs
$1.35LYD 8.53
$2.18฿71.9
-38.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.02LYD 31.67
$15.91฿526
-68.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25LYD 20.49
$3.07฿102
5.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84LYD 62.1
$9.87฿326
-0.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33LYD 14.68
$2.63฿86.8
-11.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LYD 9.66
$1.10฿36.19
39.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72LYD 4.56
$1.63฿53.8
-55.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57LYD 3.58
$1.53฿50.6
-62.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71LYD 4.48
$1.24฿41.13
-42.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47LYD 2.94
$1.13฿37.37
-58.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43LYD 2.71
$0.74฿24.38
-41.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21LYD 1.29
$0.50฿16.48
-58.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.82LYD 11.52
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07LYD 6.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83LYD 5.26
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01LYD 12.71
$4.28฿141
-53.04%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿594
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70฿56.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tarhuna
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)
$0.75LYD 4.75
$1.23฿40.76
-39.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49LYD 3.11
$0.53฿17.66
-7.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40฿79.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.02LYD 0.14
$1.44฿47.55
-98.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KLYD 146.6K
$21.2K฿700.2K
9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2KLYD 89.8K
$27.3K฿902.1K
-47.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.6LYD 603
$64.9฿2,145
47.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.85LYD 36.92
$13.35฿441
-56.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.24LYD 172
$20.83฿688
30.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.71฿222
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$53.0LYD 335
$787฿26.0K
-93.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$613LYD 3,871
$15.1K฿499.6K
-95.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.89LYD 132
$56.2฿1,858
-62.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.65LYD 111
$24.95฿824
-29.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.8LYD 352
$92.7฿3,063
-39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.0LYD 423
$75.1฿2,482
-10.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarhuna
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
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tarhuna: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tarhuna versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $116 vs $242 – making Tarhuna 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
Tarhuna vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Tarhuna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Tarhuna and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $545 per month in Tarhuna 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 Tarhuna and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tarhuna 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 Tarhuna or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 109% 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 Tarhuna or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarhuna, where all-in costs run around $363, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Tarhuna 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, Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tarhuna costs $363 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 Tarhuna 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 Tarhuna or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tarhuna. 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.