😐A single person spends $996 per month in Terre Rouge vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,193 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,855 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 Rouge26% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.66MUR 314
$1.98฿64.3
236.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.97MUR 2,070
$18.80฿612
133.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.55MUR 308
$7.75฿252
-15.48%
Cappuccino
$2.59MUR 122
$1.92฿62.5
34.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MUR 48.84
$0.79฿25.79
31.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.90
$0.36฿11.62
63.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14MUR 101
$2.21฿72.1
-3.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76MUR 130
$3.66฿119
-24.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.7
$1.65฿53.8
-11.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 31.20
$1.63฿53.2
-59.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29MUR 60.5
$1.19฿38.86
8.40%
Eggs
$2.31MUR 109
$2.00฿65.1
15.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96MUR 469
$15.98฿520
-37.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.08MUR 286
$3.03฿98.5
100.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.49MUR 494
$10.86฿354
-3.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MUR 97.4
$2.76฿90.0
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90MUR 89.3
$1.18฿38.42
61.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49MUR 70.0
$1.64฿53.5
-9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73MUR 129
$1.52฿49.51
79.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98MUR 46.24
$1.38฿45.10
-28.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.07
$1.19฿38.84
-21.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85MUR 39.88
$0.70฿22.86
21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.83
$0.56฿18.13
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98MUR 282
$4.58฿149
30.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.38MUR 442
$16.56฿539
-43.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MUR 84.9
$1.83฿59.5
-1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12MUR 99.6
$3.20฿104
-33.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 48.75
$0.88฿28.56
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42MUR 208
$1.36฿44.16
225.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71MUR 128
$1.34฿43.65
102.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.63MUR 736
$7.84฿256
99.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MUR 68.0
$1.23฿39.92
17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KMUR 1.7M
$21.6K฿704.3K
64.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KMUR 1.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
30.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.3MUR 2,371
$70.5฿2,298
-28.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.51MUR 872
$13.68฿445
35.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.06MUR 1,510
$17.45฿568
83.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.89MUR 1,784
$41.33฿1,346
-8.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.88MUR 277
$5.77฿188
1.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153MUR 7,191
$307฿10.0K
-50.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,948MUR 185.9K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-72.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3MUR 2,415
$55.8฿1,817
-8.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.34MUR 2,041
$26.21฿854
65.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4MUR 3,927
$85.8฿2,793
-2.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3MUR 3,640
$72.2฿2,353
6.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513MUR 24.2K
$430฿14.0K
19.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MUR 16.3K
$239฿7,774
45.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$945MUR 44.5K
$817฿26.6K
15.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715MUR 33.6K
$511฿16.6K
39.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $513 in Terre Rouge 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Terre Rouge versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Terre Rouge vs $241 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 $1,494 per month in Terre Rouge 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, 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 12% 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 $869, than in Terre Rouge at $996. 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 $869 versus $996 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.
Terre Rouge vs other spots: cost of living compared