😐A single person spends $3,551 per month in Turgi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,359 per month in Turgi vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,168 per month in Turgi vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Turgi costs about 317% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Turgi sits 165% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$37.38CHF 29.57
$1.96฿64.0
1807.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$139CHF 110
$18.81฿615
639.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.70CHF 12.42
$7.92฿259
98.23%
Cappuccino
$6.51CHF 5.15
$1.91฿62.6
240.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34CHF 4.22
$0.84฿27.41
535.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29CHF 3.40
$0.35฿11.51
1125.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.50CHF 6.73
$2.21฿72.1
284.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21CHF 5.70
$3.80฿124
89.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CHF 1.83
$1.64฿53.5
41.46%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44CHF 2.72
$1.62฿53.1
112.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.81
$1.18฿38.62
94.07%
Eggs
$5.44CHF 4.30
$2.01฿65.8
170.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$31.04CHF 24.56
$15.89฿520
95.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.48CHF 28.07
$3.01฿98.5
1078.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$50.6CHF 40.06
$10.77฿352
370.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.87
$2.61฿85.5
-9.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33CHF 1.84
$1.22฿39.88
90.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88CHF 2.28
$1.70฿55.7
69.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26CHF 1.79
$1.58฿51.5
43.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CHF 1.95
$1.32฿43.14
86.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.82
$1.17฿38.23
95.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CHF 2.10
$0.67฿21.98
295.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28CHF 1.02
$0.56฿18.32
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66CHF 3.69
$4.53฿148
2.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22CHF 5.71
$18.20฿595
-60.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25CHF 1.78
$1.83฿60.0
22.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28CHF 1.80
$3.23฿106
-29.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.88CHF 3.07
$0.89฿29.00
335.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.5CHF 78.7
$19.38฿634
413.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.14CHF 6.44
$1.35฿44.20
502.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.52CHF 3.58
$1.35฿44.05
234.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.0CHF 69.6
$8.25฿270
966.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13CHF 1.68
$1.27฿41.64
67.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KCHF 32.2K
$21.2K฿691.8K
92.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0KCHF 34.0K
$22.5K฿735.3K
91.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252CHF 199
$70.2฿2,294
258.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.3CHF 58.0
$13.77฿450
432.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4CHF 43.79
$17.60฿575
214.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.7CHF 68.6
$41.57฿1,360
108.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.48CHF 17.78
$5.78฿189
288.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,914CHF 2,305
$306฿10.0K
851.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$42.9KCHF 33.9K
$14.8K฿484.8K
189.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 109
$54.4฿1,778
154.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.2CHF 61.0
$26.14฿855
195.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133CHF 105
$84.5฿2,764
57.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162CHF 128
$69.4฿2,270
133.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,702CHF 1,346
$424฿13.9K
301.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446CHF 1,143
$238฿7,788
506.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,787CHF 2,204
$825฿27.0K
237.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,448CHF 1,936
$515฿16.8K
375.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.8KCHF 11.7K
$2,049฿67.0K
621.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.9KCHF 8,597
$1,523฿49.8K
613.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
5
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turgi: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,702 in Turgi versus $424 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 $139 in Turgi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $628 vs $243 – 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 317% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,327 per month in Turgi and $1,278 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,914 per month in Turgi and $306 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 158% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Turgi at $3,551. 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 $852 versus $3,551 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 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.