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 $776 per month in Tema vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,229 per month in Tema vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Tema vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tema is about 18% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tema and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tema 44% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.06 GHS 80.6

$2.10 ฿69.3

236.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.37 GHS 324

$19.84 ฿656

42.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$5.36 GHS 61.2

$1.83 ฿60.4

192.90%

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

$0.91 GHS 10.43

$0.78 ฿25.61

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 GHS 3.28

$0.31 ฿10.37

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 GHS 37.60

$2.34 ฿77.2

40.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 GHS 30.61

$3.70 ฿122

-27.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.29 GHS 37.53

$2.03 ฿67.1

62.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 GHS 18.49

$1.60 ฿52.7

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 GHS 23.70

$1.42 ฿46.75

46.48%

Eggs

$2.46 GHS 28.09

$2.18 ฿71.9

12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.32 GHS 49.38

$15.91 ฿526

-72.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 GHS 38.74

$3.07 ฿102

10.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 GHS 41.54

$9.87 ฿326

-63.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 GHS 29.77

$2.63 ฿86.8

-0.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 GHS 25.64

$1.10 ฿36.19

104.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 GHS 25.54

$1.63 ฿53.8

37.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 GHS 40.36

$1.53 ฿50.6

130.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 GHS 41.07

$1.24 ฿41.13

190.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 GHS 33.84

$1.13 ฿37.37

161.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 GHS 5.23

$0.74 ฿24.38

-37.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 GHS 8.37

$0.50 ฿16.48

46.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.34 GHS 15.31

$4.28 ฿141

-68.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.05 GHS 103

$17.97 ฿594

-49.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 GHS 24.60

$1.70 ฿56.1

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 GHS 34.51

$2.90 ฿95.7

4.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 GHS 20.79

$0.94 ฿31.13

93.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.17 GHS 493

$55.3 ฿1,827

-21.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 GHS 24.67

$1.23 ฿40.76

75.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 GHS 4.91

$0.53 ฿17.66

-18.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 GHS 13.35

$1.44 ฿47.55

-18.75%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$78.6 GHS 897

$64.9 ฿2,145

21.01%

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

$15.52 GHS 177

$13.35 ฿441

16.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.3 GHS 963

$20.83 ฿688

304.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.78 GHS 283

$40.42 ฿1,336

-38.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 GHS 99.5

$6.71 ฿222

29.96%

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

$177 GHS 2,022

$787 ฿26.0K

-77.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,633 GHS 30.1K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-82.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.25 GHS 151

$56.2 ฿1,858

-76.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.17 GHS 185

$24.95 ฿824

-35.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.66 GHS 510

$92.7 ฿3,063

-51.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.62 GHS 384

$75.1 ฿2,482

-55.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 GHS 1,493

$484 ฿16.0K

-72.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.7 GHS 853

$287 ฿9,491

-73.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 GHS 5,132

$910 ฿30.1K

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 GHS 2,496

$531 ฿17.5K

-58.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.1K GHS 114.8K

$1,980 ฿65.4K

407.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,994 GHS 68.4K

$1,451 ฿47.9K

313.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 GHS 4,947

$605 ฿20.0K

-28.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

528.37%

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

Last update for Tema: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Tema versus $484 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 40% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Tema vs $242 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 22% more than Tema, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Tema and $1,426 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 $177 per month in Tema and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tema, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Tema 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. Tema costs $776 versus $950 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.