😐A single person spends $963 per month in Terre Rouge vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,235 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Terre Rouge costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Terre Rouge and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Terre Rouge28% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52MUR 305
$2.04฿68.2
219.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.42MUR 2,034
$18.71฿624
132.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.53MUR 306
$7.86฿262
-16.92%
Cappuccino
$2.60MUR 122
$2.03฿67.7
28.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.35
$0.80฿26.64
18.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MUR 25.92
$0.35฿11.68
57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07MUR 97.1
$2.14฿71.5
-3.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80MUR 131
$3.67฿122
-23.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49MUR 70.0
$1.73฿57.6
-13.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.50
$1.57฿52.4
-58.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29MUR 60.2
$1.20฿39.99
7.50%
Eggs
$2.36MUR 110
$1.97฿65.8
19.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.67MUR 453
$16.23฿541
-40.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24MUR 292
$3.06฿102
103.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51MUR 492
$10.80฿360
-2.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96MUR 92.0
$2.77฿92.3
-29.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MUR 93.8
$1.17฿38.94
70.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.2
$1.71฿57.0
-15.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70MUR 126
$1.59฿53.2
69.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MUR 47.91
$1.39฿46.51
-26.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.43
$1.16฿38.56
-18.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MUR 39.01
$0.66฿22.05
25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53MUR 24.77
$0.52฿17.31
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.15MUR 288
$4.65฿155
32.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37MUR 392
$17.78฿593
-52.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 80.4
$1.79฿59.6
-3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11MUR 98.9
$3.34฿111
-36.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00MUR 46.70
$0.91฿30.27
9.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28MUR 201
$1.41฿47.04
203.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69MUR 126
$1.34฿44.70
100.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.24MUR 714
$8.11฿270
87.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.6
$1.23฿41.16
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMUR 1.7M
$21.4K฿715.1K
68.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
$21.8K฿728.0K
30.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.79MUR 2,285
$71.3฿2,379
-31.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53MUR 868
$14.01฿467
32.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.11MUR 1,504
$17.93฿598
79.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.47MUR 1,802
$40.82฿1,362
-5.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.02MUR 282
$5.72฿191
5.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154MUR 7,193
$308฿10.3K
-50.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,941MUR 184.6K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-73.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.76MUR 2,331
$55.8฿1,860
-10.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60MUR 2,089
$26.04฿869
71.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MUR 3,841
$84.8฿2,829
-3.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6MUR 3,679
$71.0฿2,368
10.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MUR 23.8K
$423฿14.1K
19.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358MUR 16.8K
$242฿8,088
47.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$964MUR 45.1K
$797฿26.6K
20.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$734MUR 34.4K
$507฿16.9K
44.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Rouge
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $508 in Terre Rouge versus $423 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 $43.00 in Terre Rouge versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Terre Rouge vs $244 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 13% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Terre Rouge and $1,279 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 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 in 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Terre Rouge at $963. 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 $963 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 to 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