🙂A single person spends $483 per month in Tartus vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $760 per month in Tartus vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,037 per month in Tartus vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tartus is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tartus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tartus64% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.18SYP 751
$1.96฿65.9
215.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.98SYP 3,400
$18.35฿617
52.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.51SYP 670
$7.48฿252
-26.34%
Cappuccino
$0.78SYP 94.8
$2.02฿67.8
-61.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12SYP 137
$0.85฿28.52
31.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69SYP 83.5
$0.36฿11.97
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64SYP 200
$2.14฿71.9
-23.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SYP 299
$3.59฿121
-31.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00SYP 122
$1.65฿55.5
-39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63SYP 76.2
$1.57฿52.7
-59.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53SYP 186
$1.19฿40.05
28.57%
Eggs
$1.40SYP 170
$1.94฿65.1
-27.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.10SYP 377
$16.19฿545
-80.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.52SYP 914
$2.99฿101
151.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.10SYP 985
$10.94฿368
-25.96%
Apples(1kg)
$0.93SYP 113
$2.71฿91.2
-65.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22SYP 149
$1.17฿39.27
4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98SYP 120
$1.69฿56.8
-42.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.96SYP 117
$1.60฿54.0
-40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.62SYP 75.6
$1.38฿46.56
-55.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67SYP 81.4
$1.20฿40.47
-44.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38SYP 45.97
$0.67฿22.51
-43.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61SYP 74.2
$0.56฿18.74
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07SYP 373
$4.64฿156
-33.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.07SYP 981
$17.62฿593
-54.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01SYP 123
$1.86฿62.6
-45.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SYP 215
$3.30฿111
-46.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63SYP 76.1
$1.36฿45.92
-53.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28SYP 155
$1.34฿45.00
-4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.35SYP 772
$8.21฿276
-22.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17SYP 142
$1.22฿41.20
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KSYP 2.3M
$21.4K฿718.5K
-13.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KSYP 2.6M
$22.5K฿758.1K
-6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101SYP 12.2K
$70.7฿2,378
42.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.37SYP 1,017
$14.04฿472
-40.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.08SYP 4,262
$17.49฿589
100.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.14SYP 1,475
$42.15฿1,418
-71.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.09SYP 375
$5.92฿199
-47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.00SYP 5,225
$309฿10.4K
-86.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,813SYP 220.3K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-87.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.63SYP 2,386
$55.8฿1,876
-64.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.73SYP 3,127
$26.11฿879
-1.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.53SYP 5,532
$83.0฿2,793
-45.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.56SYP 4,807
$70.5฿2,371
-43.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101SYP 12.2K
$432฿14.5K
-76.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,040
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$50.2SYP 6,094
$579฿19.5K
-91.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tartus: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Tartus versus $432 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 run about 1055% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tartus versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Tartus vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Tartus wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tartus vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tartus or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 78% more than Tartus, 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 Tartus and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $725 per month in Tartus and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tartus or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tartus, 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 Tartus and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tartus 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 Tartus or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 $1,000/month in Tartus or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $483 in Tartus and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tartus or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tartus costs $483 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tartus 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 Tartus or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tartus. 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.