😐A single person spends $3,572 per month in Turgi vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,477 per month in Turgi vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,382 per month in Turgi vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Turgi costs about 283% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Turgi sits 161% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.09CHF 23.91
$2.08฿69.3
1298.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$128CHF 105
$19.61฿653
554.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.68CHF 15.35
$5.67฿189
229.45%
Cappuccino
$6.71CHF 5.52
$1.81฿60.1
270.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36CHF 5.23
$0.77฿25.58
725.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81CHF 4.77
$0.35฿11.49
1560.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.08CHF 7.46
$2.21฿73.7
310.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.12CHF 8.32
$3.79฿126
167.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CHF 1.85
$2.05฿68.2
10.24%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17CHF 2.61
$1.51฿50.4
109.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38CHF 2.78
$1.40฿46.57
141.43%
Eggs
$8.03CHF 6.60
$2.26฿75.2
255.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.39CHF 21.69
$16.19฿539
63.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.70CHF 22.76
$2.90฿96.4
855.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.59CHF 35.00
$9.42฿314
352.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78CHF 3.11
$2.68฿89.2
41.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.95
$1.09฿36.28
117.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.94CHF 2.42
$1.62฿53.8
81.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87CHF 4.00
$1.46฿48.61
233.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71CHF 1.41
$1.28฿42.54
33.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96CHF 1.61
$1.06฿35.21
84.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22CHF 1.82
$0.72฿23.88
208.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59CHF 1.31
$0.53฿17.51
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61CHF 9.54
$4.23฿141
174.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.57CHF 10.33
$18.29฿609
-31.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51CHF 2.06
$1.63฿54.3
53.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08CHF 2.53
$2.90฿96.6
6.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58CHF 3.76
$0.88฿29.24
420.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102CHF 83.7
$53.8฿1,790
89.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.08CHF 6.64
$1.17฿39.04
590.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.82CHF 3.96
$0.58฿19.25
731.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.1CHF 72.4
$2.39฿79.4
3584.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30CHF 1.89
$1.45฿48.28
58.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.0KCHF 36.2K
$21.0K฿699.5K
109.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.6K
$26.4K฿879.7K
49.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$298CHF 245
$63.7฿2,119
368.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9CHF 45.08
$12.89฿429
325.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4CHF 54.5
$20.52฿683
223.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.3CHF 75.0
$39.02฿1,299
133.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.26CHF 38.02
$3.92฿130
1080.10%
Cinema Ticket
$23.55CHF 19.36
$6.58฿219
257.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,084CHF 2,534
$784฿26.1K
293.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.7KCHF 26.9K
$14.7K฿488.4K
123.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149CHF 123
$55.1฿1,835
170.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4CHF 66.0
$24.74฿824
224.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$163CHF 134
$94.1฿3,133
73.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202CHF 166
$74.0฿2,462
173.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,713CHF 1,408
$490฿16.3K
249.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,495CHF 1,228
$288฿9,594
418.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,904CHF 2,386
$891฿29.7K
225.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,485CHF 2,043
$521฿17.3K
376.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.3KCHF 13.4K
$1,974฿65.7K
727.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.1KCHF 9,970
$1,444฿48.1K
739.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.43
5.57
-56.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turgi: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,713 in Turgi 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $128 in Turgi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $595 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
Turgi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Turgi or Chiang Mai?
Turgi costs about 283% 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 Turgi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,359 per month in Turgi 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, Turgi 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 Turgi and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $3,084 per month in Turgi 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 Turgi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 147% more in Turgi, 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 Turgi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Turgi at $3,572. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turgi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Turgi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $3,572 in Turgi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Turgi 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 Turgi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Turgi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.