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 $167 per month in Tete vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $268 per month in Tete vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $370 per month in Tete vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tete is about 81% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tete and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tete 88% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 MZN 299

$1.98 ฿64.3

138.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$1.61 MZN 102

$1.92 ฿62.5

-16.15%

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

$0.81 MZN 51.0

$0.79 ฿25.79

2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MZN 23.82

$0.36 ฿11.62

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 MZN 46.97

$2.21 ฿72.1

-66.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MZN 78.0

$3.66 ฿119

-66.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MZN 101

$1.65 ฿53.8

-3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MZN 43.23

$1.63 ฿53.2

-58.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 MZN 152

$1.19 ฿38.86

101.68%

Eggs

$3.21 MZN 203

$2.00 ฿65.1

60.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 MZN 194

$3.03 ฿98.5

1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 101

$2.76 ฿90.0

-42.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 MZN 97.7

$1.52 ฿49.51

1.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MZN 99.6

$1.38 ฿45.10

13.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 MZN 97.6

$1.19 ฿38.84

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MZN 48.04

$0.56 ฿18.13

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MZN 67.9

$1.83 ฿59.5

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 MZN 97.8

$3.20 ฿104

-51.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tete: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 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 422% 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 $250 per month in Tete and $1,303 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 $167 in Tete and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 137% 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 $167 in Tete and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tete costs $167 versus $869 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.