Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarhuna and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarhuna and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $384 per month in Tarhuna vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $578 per month in Tarhuna vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $772 per month in Tarhuna vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tarhuna is about 56% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarhuna and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tarhuna 71% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.49 LYD 28.54
$1.94 ฿63.6
131.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.08 LYD 115
$18.64 ฿609
-3.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 LYD 23.15
$7.82 ฿256
-53.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.53 LYD 3.39
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 LYD 4.58
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.49 LYD 3.10
$1.95 ฿63.9
-74.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 LYD 2.89
$0.85 ฿27.80
-47.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 LYD 0.75
$0.35 ฿11.60
-65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13 ฿69.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 LYD 6.50
$1.71 ฿56.0
-40.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 LYD 1.33
$1.63 ฿53.3
-87.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 LYD 7.59
$1.14 ฿37.18
4.39%
Eggs
$1.48 LYD 9.44
$1.93 ฿63.2
-23.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.87 LYD 30.96
$16.21 ฿530
-69.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 LYD 21.02
$3.12 ฿102
5.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.27 LYD 65.3
$10.90 ฿356
-5.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 LYD 13.45
$2.75 ฿90.1
-22.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 LYD 8.50
$1.21 ฿39.56
10.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.76 LYD 4.86
$1.62 ฿53.0
-53.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 LYD 3.60
$1.59 ฿51.9
-64.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 LYD 4.14
$1.40 ฿45.75
-53.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.34
$1.17 ฿38.20
-55.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 LYD 2.66
$0.66 ฿21.62
-36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20 LYD 1.27
$0.53 ฿17.24
-62.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.24 LYD 7.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 LYD 4.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LYD 4.33
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 LYD 11.80
$4.69 ฿153
-60.34%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.66 ฿610
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 ฿58.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23 ฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.90 ฿29.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿628
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 LYD 6.11
$1.41 ฿45.96
-31.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 LYD 5.44
$1.29 ฿42.16
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 LYD 30.03
$7.84 ฿256
-39.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.20
$1.27 ฿41.62
-97.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K LYD 88.1K
$21.3K ฿695.5K
-34.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.2K LYD 103.2K
$22.2K ฿726.1K
-26.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.24 LYD 205
$69.1 ฿2,258
-53.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04 LYD 51.1
$14.08 ฿460
-42.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74 LYD 145
$18.00 ฿588
26.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.06 ฿1,342
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.47 LYD 28.44
$5.92 ฿193
-24.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.2 LYD 339
$299 ฿9,775
-82.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$913 LYD 5,805
$15.0K ฿488.8K
-93.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.46 LYD 136
$54.7 ฿1,788
-60.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.02 LYD 223
$26.77 ฿875
30.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.2 LYD 319
$85.0 ฿2,778
-40.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 LYD 349
$70.6 ฿2,308
-22.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$91.8 LYD 584
$428 ฿14.0K
-78.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$63.4 LYD 403
$237 ฿7,759
-73.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 ฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$515 ฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarhuna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.5
5
250.00%

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

Last update for Tarhuna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.8 in Tarhuna versus $428 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tarhuna versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $246 – 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 126% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $576 per month in Tarhuna and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tarhuna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Tarhuna vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tarhuna 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 Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 111% 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 $1,200/month in Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $384 in Tarhuna and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tarhuna or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tarhuna costs $384 versus $866 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 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.

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