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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $172 per month in Tete vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $275 per month in Tete vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $379 per month in Tete vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tete is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tete and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tete 87% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 MZN 292

$1.96 ฿63.6

133.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.52 MZN 96.6

$1.91 ฿62.2

-20.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MZN 51.9

$0.84 ฿27.25

-2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MZN 23.96

$0.35 ฿11.44

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 MZN 47.26

$2.21 ฿71.7

-66.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MZN 77.7

$3.80 ฿124

-67.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 MZN 97.6

$1.64 ฿53.2

-6.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 MZN 42.72

$1.62 ฿52.8

-58.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 MZN 149

$1.18 ฿38.40

98.31%

Eggs

$3.06 MZN 195

$2.01 ฿65.4

52.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 MZN 205

$3.01 ฿98.0

6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 102

$2.61 ฿85.0

-38.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 MZN 98.6

$1.58 ฿51.2

-1.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 102

$1.32 ฿42.89

21.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 MZN 96.7

$1.17 ฿38.01

29.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MZN 50.8

$0.56 ฿18.21

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MZN 67.5

$1.83 ฿59.6

-42.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MZN 100

$3.23 ฿105

-51.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿687.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿731.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.2 ฿2,281

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tete: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

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

Tete vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 395% more than Tete, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $258 per month in Tete and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $172 in Tete and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 140% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $172 in Tete and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tete costs $172 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tete. 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.