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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $637 per month in Tartus vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $990 per month in Tartus vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,344 per month in Tartus vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tartus is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tartus and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tartus 53% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.01 SYP 1,217

$2.08 ฿69.3

381.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.16 SYP 5,487

$19.61 ฿653

130.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 SYP 844

$5.67 ฿189

22.57%

Cappuccino

$3.60 SYP 438

$1.81 ฿60.1

98.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 SYP 279

$0.77 ฿25.58

197.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 SYP 98.9

$0.35 ฿11.49

131.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 SYP 236

$2.21 ฿73.7

-12.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 SYP 359

$3.79 ฿126

-22.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.48 SYP 58.7

$2.05 ฿68.2

-76.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 SYP 50.2

$1.51 ฿50.4

-72.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 SYP 95.3

$1.40 ฿46.57

-44.29%

Eggs

$0.86 SYP 104

$2.26 ฿75.2

-61.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.83 SYP 466

$16.19 ฿539

-76.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 SYP 372

$2.90 ฿96.4

5.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 SYP 1,647

$9.42 ฿314

43.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$2.68 ฿89.2

-61.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SYP 167

$1.09 ฿36.28

26.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 SYP 132

$1.62 ฿53.8

-32.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.22 SYP 26.60

$1.46 ฿48.61

-84.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.22 SYP 26.60

$1.28 ฿42.54

-82.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 SYP 36.32

$1.06 ฿35.21

-71.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 48.53

$0.72 ฿23.88

-44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.6

$0.53 ฿17.51

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 SYP 333

$4.23 ฿141

-35.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 SYP 732

$18.29 ฿609

-67.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 SYP 134

$1.63 ฿54.3

-32.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 SYP 347

$2.90 ฿96.6

-1.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 SYP 39.34

$0.88 ฿29.24

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 120

$1.17 ฿39.04

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 SYP 180

$0.58 ฿19.25

155.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.76 SYP 942

$2.39 ฿79.4

224.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.65 SYP 443

$1.45 ฿48.28

151.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.0K SYP 1.8M

$21.0K ฿699.5K

-28.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.8K SYP 2.3M

$26.4K ฿879.7K

-28.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$142 SYP 17.2K

$63.7 ฿2,119

122.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.67 SYP 1,175

$12.89 ฿429

-24.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.64 SYP 2,386

$20.52 ฿683

-4.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.80 SYP 704

$39.02 ฿1,299

-85.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$5.45 SYP 663

$6.58 ฿219

-17.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$9.56 SYP 1,161

$784 ฿26.1K

-98.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,801 SYP 218.8K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-87.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.69 SYP 1,420

$55.1 ฿1,835

-78.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.82 SYP 4,838

$24.74 ฿824

60.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.71 SYP 5,554

$94.1 ฿3,133

-51.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.29 SYP 1,857

$74.0 ฿2,462

-79.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 SYP 13.9K

$490 ฿16.3K

-76.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 SYP 9,268

$288 ฿9,594

-73.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 SYP 28.4K

$891 ฿29.7K

-73.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 SYP 13.9K

$521 ฿17.3K

-78.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$50.7 SYP 6,164

$602 ฿20.0K

-91.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.25

5.57

155.83%

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

Last update for Tartus: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Tartus versus $490 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 1086% 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 $45.00 in Tartus versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $135 in Tartus vs $241 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

Chiang Mai costs about 46% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $956 per month in Tartus and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Tartus and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 78% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tartus, where all-in costs run around $637, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tartus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tartus costs $637 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.