🙂A single person spends $682 per month in Teresopolis vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,099 per month in Teresopolis vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,517 per month in Teresopolis vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Teresopolis is about 21% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Teresopolis and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Teresopolis49% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51R$17.86
$1.96฿65.8
79.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.07R$128
$18.35฿617
36.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.20R$31.55
$7.48฿252
-17.11%
Cappuccino
$1.55R$7.88
$2.02฿67.8
-23.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34R$6.80
$0.85฿28.50
57.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.64
$0.36฿11.96
97.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81R$9.23
$2.14฿71.8
-15.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67R$13.57
$3.59฿121
-25.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17R$5.95
$1.65฿55.5
-29.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75R$8.92
$1.57฿52.7
11.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43R$7.28
$1.19฿40.02
20.17%
Eggs
$2.04R$10.36
$1.94฿65.1
5.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54R$38.39
$16.19฿544
-53.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$18.01
$2.99฿101
18.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64R$38.89
$10.94฿368
-30.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20R$11.22
$2.71฿91.2
-18.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.55
$1.17฿39.25
10.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46R$7.43
$1.69฿56.7
-13.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56R$7.94
$1.60฿54.0
-2.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.26
$1.38฿46.54
-10.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15R$5.85
$1.20฿40.45
-4.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64R$3.25
$0.67฿22.50
-4.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.88
$0.56฿18.73
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02R$10.29
$4.64฿156
-56.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93R$30.18
$17.62฿593
-66.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21R$6.16
$1.86฿62.5
-34.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13R$10.82
$3.30฿111
-35.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77R$3.92
$0.88฿29.68
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.80R$121
$19.34฿650
23.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93R$4.73
$1.36฿45.90
-31.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.52
$1.34฿44.98
-48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11R$10.73
$8.21฿276
-74.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.20
$1.22฿41.18
-16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KR$103.0K
$21.4K฿718.1K
-5.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KR$139.4K
$22.5K฿757.7K
21.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.52R$135
$70.7฿2,376
-62.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.32R$62.7
$14.04฿472
-12.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.27R$87.9
$17.49฿588
-1.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.43R$124
$42.15฿1,417
-42.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.30R$93.2
$6.88฿231
165.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37R$27.36
$5.92฿199
-9.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274R$1,394
$309฿10.4K
-11.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KR$58.2K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-23.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.01R$112
$55.8฿1,875
-60.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.60R$135
$26.11฿878
1.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9R$386
$83.0฿2,792
-8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2R$316
$70.5฿2,369
-11.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,604
$432฿14.5K
-27.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$218R$1,110
$239฿8,035
-8.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343R$1,745
$822฿27.7K
-58.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424R$2,158
$512฿17.2K
-17.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,156R$5,884
$1,915฿64.4K
-39.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Teresopolis
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473R$2,409
$579฿19.5K
-18.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
5
126.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Teresopolis: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Teresopolis versus $432 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 22% 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 $25.00 in Teresopolis versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $176 in Teresopolis vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Teresopolis 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
Teresopolis vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Teresopolis or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Teresopolis, 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 Teresopolis and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,022 per month in Teresopolis and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Teresopolis or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Teresopolis, 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 Teresopolis and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $274 per month in Teresopolis and $309 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 Teresopolis or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,200/month in Teresopolis or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $682 in Teresopolis and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Teresopolis or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Teresopolis costs $682 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Teresopolis. 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.
Teresopolis vs other spots: cost of living compared