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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $481 per month in Tartus vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $740 per month in Tartus vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $999 per month in Tartus vs $1,835 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 – Tartus 64% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.05 SYP 669
$1.94 ฿63.5
211.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.02 SYP 2,986
$18.64 ฿609
44.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 SYP 594
$7.82 ฿255
-31.20%
Cappuccino
$0.76 SYP 84.4
$1.95 ฿63.8
-61.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 SYP 126
$0.85 ฿27.77
34.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SYP 79.2
$0.35 ฿11.58
105.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 SYP 172
$2.13 ฿69.6
-26.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 SYP 272
$3.73 ฿122
-34.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 SYP 111
$1.71 ฿56.0
-41.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 SYP 64.2
$1.63 ฿53.2
-64.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 SYP 169
$1.14 ฿37.15
34.21%
Eggs
$1.36 SYP 150
$1.93 ฿63.1
-29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.13 SYP 346
$16.21 ฿530
-80.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 SYP 850
$3.12 ฿102
146.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.93 SYP 876
$10.90 ฿356
-27.25%
Apples (1kg)
$0.87 SYP 95.8
$2.75 ฿90.0
-68.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 SYP 137
$1.21 ฿39.52
2.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 SYP 114
$1.62 ฿53.0
-36.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 SYP 104
$1.59 ฿51.8
-40.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 SYP 69.4
$1.40 ฿45.70
-55.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 73.0
$1.17 ฿38.17
-43.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 41.94
$0.66 ฿21.60
-42.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SYP 68.3
$0.53 ฿17.22
16.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 SYP 336
$4.69 ฿153
-35.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 SYP 640
$18.66 ฿609
-68.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 SYP 108
$1.80 ฿58.8
-45.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SYP 202
$3.23 ฿106
-43.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.90 ฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿628
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 SYP 69.0
$1.41 ฿45.91
-56.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 SYP 134
$1.29 ฿42.12
-5.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.58 SYP 727
$7.84 ฿256
-16.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 SYP 131
$1.27 ฿41.58
-7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
$21.3K ฿694.9K
-12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SYP 2.3M
$22.2K ฿725.4K
-6.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 SYP 11.3K
$69.1 ฿2,256
47.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44 SYP 933
$14.08 ฿460
-40.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.28 SYP 3,898
$18.00 ฿588
96.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.96 SYP 1,322
$41.06 ฿1,341
-70.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.04 SYP 336
$5.92 ฿193
-48.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.54 SYP 4,811
$299 ฿9,766
-85.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,838 SYP 203.1K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-87.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.10 SYP 2,221
$54.7 ฿1,787
-63.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.63 SYP 2,832
$26.77 ฿874
-4.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.41 SYP 5,018
$85.0 ฿2,776
-46.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.25 SYP 4,447
$70.6 ฿2,306
-42.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$98.8 SYP 10.9K
$428 ฿14.0K
-76.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$237 ฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 ฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$515 ฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$50.8 SYP 5,607
$617 ฿20.2K
-91.78%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $98.8 in Tartus 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.

Salaries run about 1117% 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 $27.00 in Tartus versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Tartus vs $246 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 80% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $721 per month in Tartus 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, 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Tartus 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 Tartus or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 62% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $481 in Tartus and $866 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 $481 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 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 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.

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