😐A single person spends $1,799 per month in Tseri vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,814 per month in Tseri vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,829 per month in Tseri vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tseri costs about 93% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Tseri sits 32% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20€14.99
$2.08฿69.5
726.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$19.61฿655
257.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.10€7.93
$5.67฿189
60.49%
Cappuccino
$3.82€3.33
$1.81฿60.3
111.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.72
$0.77฿25.65
155.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15€1.00
$0.35฿11.53
228.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.42€3.85
$2.21฿73.9
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.47
$3.79฿127
5.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90€1.66
$2.05฿68.4
-7.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.28
$1.51฿50.6
-3.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42€2.11
$1.40฿46.69
72.86%
Eggs
$4.98€4.34
$2.26฿75.4
120.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$16.19฿540
-17.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.25€8.06
$2.90฿96.7
218.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62€11.00
$9.42฿314
33.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23€2.82
$2.68฿89.4
20.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.09฿36.37
69.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.92
$1.62฿54.0
35.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.69€3.22
$1.46฿48.74
152.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46€1.28
$1.28฿42.65
14.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23€1.07
$1.06฿35.31
16.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61€0.53
$0.72฿23.94
-15.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.91
$0.53฿17.56
96.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95€5.18
$4.23฿141
40.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.10€6.19
$18.29฿611
-61.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.48
$1.63฿54.4
4.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.78
$2.90฿96.8
-29.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17€1.89
$0.88฿29.32
146.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.03€41.00
$53.8฿1,795
-12.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29€5.49
$1.17฿39.14
437.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99€1.74
$0.58฿19.30
243.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.48€20.47
$2.39฿79.6
882.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.49
$1.45฿48.41
17.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K€29.1K
$21.0K฿701.4K
58.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K€29.4K
$26.4K฿882.0K
27.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175€153
$63.7฿2,125
175.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.79€18.12
$12.89฿430
61.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.89€30.42
$20.52฿685
70.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.8€61.7
$39.02฿1,302
81.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.27€29.88
$3.92฿131
774.23%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75€10.24
$6.58฿220
78.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$451€393
$784฿26.2K
-42.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,962€6,069
$14.7K฿489.8K
-52.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6€73.7
$55.1฿1,840
53.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.42€40.47
$24.74฿826
87.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1€82.9
$94.1฿3,142
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.9€80.1
$74.0฿2,469
24.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834€727
$490฿16.4K
70.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713€622
$288฿9,620
147.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,720€1,499
$891฿29.8K
92.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,358€1,184
$521฿17.4K
160.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,546€3,091
$1,974฿65.9K
79.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,462€2,146
$1,444฿48.2K
70.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tseri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$939€818
$602฿20.1K
56.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
5.57
-40.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tseri: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $834 in Tseri versus $490 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.
💰Salaries run about 56% higher in Tseri, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Tseri versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Tseri vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tseri or Chiang Mai?
Tseri costs about 93% 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 Tseri and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,699 per month in Tseri and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tseri 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 childcare costs compare in Tseri and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $451 per month in Tseri and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tseri or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Tseri, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tseri or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Tseri at $1,799. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tseri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tseri or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,799 in Tseri. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tseri 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 Tseri or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tseri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.