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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $818 per month in Temara vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,274 per month in Temara vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,730 per month in Temara vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Temara is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Temara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Temara 39% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.57 MAD 42.25
$1.98 ฿64.3
130.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.33 MAD 299
$18.80 ฿612
71.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.56 MAD 60.7
$7.75 ฿252
-15.35%
Cappuccino
$2.51 MAD 23.19
$1.92 ฿62.5
30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.92
$0.79 ฿25.79
-18.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MAD 3.43
$0.36 ฿11.62
2.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.37 MAD 49.65
$2.21 ฿72.1
142.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 MAD 37.15
$3.66 ฿119
9.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 7.98
$1.65 ฿53.8
-47.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 MAD 5.04
$1.63 ฿53.2
-66.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 MAD 16.19
$1.19 ฿38.86
47.06%
Eggs
$2.09 MAD 19.34
$2.00 ฿65.1
4.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 MAD 119
$15.98 ฿520
-19.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.02 MAD 55.7
$3.03 ฿98.5
98.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.04 MAD 102
$10.86 ฿354
1.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 MAD 13.97
$2.76 ฿90.0
-45.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.74
$1.18 ฿38.42
16.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.62
$1.64 ฿53.5
-50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 MAD 8.23
$1.52 ฿49.51
-41.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.89
$1.38 ฿45.10
-46.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.82
$1.19 ฿38.84
-37.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.61
$0.70 ฿22.86
-44.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.91
$0.56 ฿18.13
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MAD 39.55
$4.58 ฿149
-6.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 MAD 73.8
$16.56 ฿539
-51.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 MAD 25.34
$1.83 ฿59.5
49.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 MAD 22.83
$3.20 ฿104
-22.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.29
$0.88 ฿28.56
-35.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.68 MAD 154
$18.72 ฿610
-10.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 MAD 8.39
$1.36 ฿44.16
-33.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 MAD 7.24
$1.34 ฿43.65
-41.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.28 MAD 39.59
$7.84 ฿256
-45.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MAD 14.01
$1.23 ฿39.92
22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K MAD 339.4K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
69.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K MAD 277.4K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
32.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.51 MAD 356
$70.5 ฿2,298
-45.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.68 MAD 98.8
$13.68 ฿445
-21.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.36 MAD 364
$17.45 ฿568
125.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.62 MAD 219
$41.33 ฿1,346
-42.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.51 MAD 51.0
$6.96 ฿227
-20.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 MAD 59.9
$5.77 ฿188
12.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 MAD 1,242
$307 ฿10.0K
-56.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,339 MAD 21.6K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-83.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.41 MAD 402
$55.8 ฿1,817
-22.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.40 MAD 457
$26.21 ฿854
88.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MAD 991
$85.8 ฿2,793
24.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 MAD 954
$72.2 ฿2,353
42.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$404 MAD 3,740
$430 ฿14.0K
-5.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$211 MAD 1,956
$239 ฿7,774
-11.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$685 MAD 6,336
$817 ฿26.6K
-16.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 MAD 3,098
$511 ฿16.6K
-34.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,238 MAD 11.5K
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-37.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$917 MAD 8,487
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-38.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$243 MAD 2,250
$619 ฿20.2K
-60.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
5
-5.00%

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

Last update for Temara: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $404 in Temara versus $430 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 154% 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 $32.00 in Temara versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Temara vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Temara 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
Temara vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Temara or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Temara, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Temara vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Temara and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Temara or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Temara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Temara and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $134 per month in Temara and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Temara or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% 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 $800/month in Temara or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $818 in Temara and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Temara or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Temara costs $818 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Temara 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 Temara or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Temara. 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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