Cost of Living Comparison Between Terre Rouge and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Terre Rouge and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Terre Rouge vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,613 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,243 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Terre Rouge costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Terre Rouge and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Terre Rouge 27% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61 MUR 309
$1.96 ฿63.6
237.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.97 MUR 2,056
$18.81 ฿611
133.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.65 MUR 311
$7.92 ฿258
-16.04%
Cappuccino
$2.54 MUR 119
$1.91 ฿62.2
32.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MUR 48.24
$0.84 ฿27.25
22.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MUR 26.27
$0.35 ฿11.44
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 MUR 97.9
$2.21 ฿71.7
-5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 MUR 129
$3.80 ฿124
-27.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 MUR 69.7
$1.64 ฿53.2
-9.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MUR 30.80
$1.62 ฿52.8
-59.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 MUR 59.8
$1.18 ฿38.40
8.47%
Eggs
$2.24 MUR 105
$2.01 ฿65.4
11.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.63 MUR 450
$15.89 ฿517
-39.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 MUR 282
$3.01 ฿98.0
100.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.42 MUR 487
$10.77 ฿350
-3.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 MUR 92.4
$2.61 ฿85.0
-24.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 MUR 88.7
$1.22 ฿39.65
55.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 MUR 67.1
$1.70 ฿55.4
-15.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 MUR 122
$1.58 ฿51.2
65.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 MUR 47.44
$1.32 ฿42.89
-23.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 46.40
$1.17 ฿38.01
-15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 MUR 37.75
$0.67 ฿21.85
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MUR 24.64
$0.56 ฿18.21
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00 MUR 280
$4.53 ฿147
32.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.96 MUR 419
$18.20 ฿592
-50.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 MUR 84.2
$1.83 ฿59.6
-1.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 MUR 101
$3.23 ฿105
-33.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 MUR 48.55
$0.89 ฿28.83
16.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿630
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 MUR 202
$1.35 ฿43.95
220.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 MUR 127
$1.35 ฿43.79
101.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.11 MUR 706
$8.25 ฿268
83.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MUR 68.1
$1.27 ฿41.40
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K MUR 1.7M
$21.2K ฿687.8K
68.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K MUR 1.4M
$22.5K ฿731.0K
30.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.62 MUR 2,320
$70.2 ฿2,281
-29.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.40 MUR 860
$13.77 ฿448
33.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.79 MUR 1,533
$17.60 ฿572
86.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.87 MUR 1,817
$41.57 ฿1,352
-6.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60 ฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.02 MUR 281
$5.78 ฿188
4.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 MUR 7,067
$306 ฿9,953
-50.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,961 MUR 185.2K
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-73.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 MUR 2,396
$54.4 ฿1,768
-5.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69 MUR 2,042
$26.14 ฿850
67.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 MUR 3,888
$84.5 ฿2,748
-1.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 MUR 3,722
$69.4 ฿2,257
14.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 MUR 24.3K
$424 ฿13.8K
22.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 MUR 16.2K
$238 ฿7,743
45.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 MUR 43.9K
$825 ฿26.8K
13.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 MUR 34.1K
$515 ฿16.7K
41.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$635 ฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
5
25.00%

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

Last update for Terre Rouge: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $520 in Terre Rouge versus $424 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Terre Rouge versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Terre Rouge vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Terre Rouge 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
Terre Rouge vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
Terre Rouge costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Terre Rouge vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,475 per month in Terre Rouge and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Terre Rouge vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Terre Rouge and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Terre Rouge – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Terre Rouge at $983. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terre Rouge it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $983 in Terre Rouge. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Terre Rouge 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 Terre Rouge or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Terre Rouge makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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