😐A single person spends $1,290 per month in Tukums vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,851 per month in Tukums vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,411 per month in Tukums vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tukums costs about 51% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tukums and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tukums3% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.81€5.07
$2.04฿68.4
184.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96€20.01
$18.71฿626
22.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.03€7.88
$7.86฿263
14.89%
Cappuccino
$3.45€3.01
$2.03฿67.9
69.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.56
$0.80฿26.71
123.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$0.35฿11.71
274.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€4.93
$2.14฿71.7
164.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80€5.06
$3.67฿123
58.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.73฿57.8
-36.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.47
$1.57฿52.5
7.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02€2.63
$1.20฿40.10
151.67%
Eggs
$2.02€1.76
$1.97฿66.0
2.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05€7.89
$16.23฿543
-44.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88€5.99
$3.06฿102
124.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06€10.52
$10.80฿361
11.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65€1.44
$2.77฿92.6
-40.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.64
$1.17฿39.05
60.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66€2.32
$1.71฿57.1
55.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53€3.08
$1.59฿53.3
122.01%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66€0.57
$1.39฿46.63
-52.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05€0.92
$1.16฿38.67
-9.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.56
$0.66฿22.11
171.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.52฿17.35
9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70€4.97
$4.65฿155
22.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.78€6.78
$17.78฿595
-56.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.10
$1.79฿59.8
-29.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$3.34฿112
-31.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93€0.81
$0.91฿30.35
2.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.35€31.69
$18.64฿624
95.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84€2.47
$1.41฿47.17
101.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79€0.69
$1.34฿44.82
-41.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.04€12.24
$8.11฿271
73.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.56
$1.23฿41.27
45.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.8K
$21.4K฿717.0K
43.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.8K
$21.8K฿730.0K
46.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290€252
$71.3฿2,386
306.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.13€14.93
$14.01฿469
22.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.35€17.74
$17.93฿600
13.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0€44.42
$40.82฿1,365
24.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.54€10.06
$5.72฿191
101.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552€481
$308฿10.3K
78.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K€13.4K
$14.7K฿491.0K
4.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6€79.9
$55.8฿1,865
64.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20€40.28
$26.04฿871
77.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6€71.2
$84.8฿2,837
-3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134€117
$71.0฿2,375
89.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$229€199
$423฿14.2K
-46.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252€220
$242฿8,110
4.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762€664
$797฿26.7K
-4.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$452€394
$507฿17.0K
-10.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tukums
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$567€495
$595฿19.9K
-4.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
5
-7.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tukums: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Tukums 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.
💰Salaries run about 5% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Tukums versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Tukums vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Tukums 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
Tukums vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tukums or Chiang Mai?
Tukums costs about 51% 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 Tukums and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,935 per month in Tukums 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, Tukums 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 Tukums and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $552 per month in Tukums and $308 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 Tukums or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Tukums – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Tukums or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,290 in Tukums and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tukums or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,290 in Tukums. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tukums 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 Tukums or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tukums makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.