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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $629 per month in Tema vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,006 per month in Tema vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,383 per month in Tema vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tema is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tema and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tema 53% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 GHS 88.5

$2.04 ฿68.4

271.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.14 GHS 329

$18.71 ฿626

50.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 GHS 91.5

$7.86 ฿263

-0.38%

Cappuccino

$1.49 GHS 17.45

$2.03 ฿67.9

-26.60%

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

$1.01 GHS 11.76

$0.80 ฿26.71

26.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 GHS 3.88

$0.35 ฿11.71

-5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 GHS 20.41

$2.14 ฿71.7

-18.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 GHS 31.06

$3.67 ฿123

-27.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 GHS 34.39

$1.73 ฿57.8

69.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 GHS 19.58

$1.57 ฿52.5

7.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 GHS 18.29

$1.20 ฿40.10

30.83%

Eggs

$2.18 GHS 25.42

$1.97 ฿66.0

10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 GHS 44.22

$16.23 ฿543

-76.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.72 GHS 31.76

$3.06 ฿102

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.48 GHS 28.92

$10.80 ฿361

-77.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 GHS 31.88

$2.77 ฿92.6

-1.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 GHS 23.27

$1.17 ฿39.05

70.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 GHS 23.61

$1.71 ฿57.1

18.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 GHS 32.66

$1.59 ฿53.3

76.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 GHS 22.20

$1.39 ฿46.63

36.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 GHS 22.19

$1.16 ฿38.67

63.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 GHS 7.40

$0.66 ฿22.11

-4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 GHS 9.69

$0.52 ฿17.35

59.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$7.05 GHS 82.3

$17.78 ฿595

-60.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 GHS 9.66

$1.79 ฿59.8

-53.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 GHS 24.25

$0.91 ฿30.35

128.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.71 GHS 452

$18.64 ฿624

107.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 GHS 15.87

$1.41 ฿47.17

-3.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 GHS 8.45

$1.34 ฿44.82

-46.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 GHS 14.35

$1.23 ฿41.27

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

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

$30.27 GHS 354

$71.3 ฿2,386

-57.56%

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

$12.18 GHS 142

$14.01 ฿469

-13.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 GHS 740

$17.93 ฿600

253.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.37 GHS 226

$40.82 ฿1,365

-52.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$83.9 GHS 980

$308 ฿10.3K

-72.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.15 GHS 282

$55.8 ฿1,865

-56.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 GHS 293

$26.04 ฿871

-3.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.15 GHS 527

$84.8 ฿2,837

-46.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.5 GHS 730

$71.0 ฿2,375

-11.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 GHS 1,384

$423 ฿14.2K

-72.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 GHS 783

$242 ฿8,110

-72.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GHS 1,589

$507 ฿17.0K

-73.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,781 GHS 114.2K

$1,918 ฿64.2K

409.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,837 GHS 68.2K

$1,464 ฿49.0K

298.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 GHS 4,681

$595 ฿19.9K

-32.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

32.5

550.00%

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

Last update for Tema: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Tema versus $423 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 48% 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 Tema versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Tema vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Tema wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Tema vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 36% more than Tema, 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 $943 per month in Tema and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tema, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $83.9 per month in Tema and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $629 in Tema and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tema costs $629 versus $852 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 Tema. 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.