😐A single person spends $3,489 per month in Turgi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,420 per month in Turgi vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,352 per month in Turgi vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Turgi costs about 309% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Turgi sits 162% 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
$37.33CHF 30.12
$2.04฿68.2
1729.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144CHF 116
$18.71฿624
668.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.01CHF 12.92
$7.86฿262
103.69%
Cappuccino
$6.60CHF 5.33
$2.03฿67.7
225.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.33
$0.80฿26.64
570.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CHF 3.45
$0.35฿11.68
1122.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.44CHF 6.81
$2.14฿71.5
294.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58CHF 6.12
$3.67฿122
106.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.80
$1.73฿57.6
28.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43CHF 2.77
$1.57฿52.4
118.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.91
$1.20฿39.99
97.50%
Eggs
$5.53CHF 4.46
$1.97฿65.8
180.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$30.76CHF 24.83
$16.23฿541
89.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$34.75CHF 28.04
$3.06฿102
1035.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.1CHF 41.22
$10.80฿360
372.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.85
$2.77฿92.3
-17.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24CHF 1.81
$1.17฿38.94
91.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85CHF 2.30
$1.71฿57.0
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32CHF 1.87
$1.59฿53.2
45.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.94
$1.39฿46.51
72.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32CHF 1.87
$1.16฿38.56
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CHF 2.11
$0.66฿22.05
295.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CHF 0.99
$0.52฿17.31
136.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51CHF 3.64
$4.65฿155
-3.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02CHF 5.67
$17.78฿593
-60.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33CHF 1.88
$1.79฿59.6
30.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37CHF 1.91
$3.34฿111
-29.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02CHF 3.24
$0.91฿30.27
341.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1CHF 78.3
$18.64฿622
420.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.00CHF 6.45
$1.41฿47.04
467.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.39CHF 3.54
$1.34฿44.70
227.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.8CHF 71.6
$8.11฿270
994.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.79
$1.23฿41.16
80.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHF 32.7K
$21.4K฿715.1K
89.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0KCHF 33.9K
$21.8K฿728.0K
92.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250CHF 201
$71.3฿2,379
249.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.4CHF 59.2
$14.01฿467
423.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4CHF 44.69
$17.93฿598
208.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.6CHF 71.5
$40.82฿1,362
117.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.87CHF 40.24
$6.88฿230
624.85%
Cinema Ticket
$21.84CHF 17.62
$5.72฿191
281.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,947CHF 2,378
$308฿10.3K
855.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.1KCHF 34.7K
$14.7K฿489.7K
193.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$139CHF 112
$55.8฿1,860
149.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.5CHF 61.7
$26.04฿869
193.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133CHF 107
$84.8฿2,829
56.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161CHF 130
$71.0฿2,368
126.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,700CHF 1,372
$423฿14.1K
301.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,476CHF 1,191
$242฿8,088
508.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,787CHF 2,249
$797฿26.6K
249.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,500CHF 2,017
$507฿16.9K
393.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.9KCHF 12.0K
$1,918฿64.0K
675.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.0KCHF 10.5K
$1,464฿48.8K
787.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turgi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,700 in Turgi 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Turgi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $244 – 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 309% 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 $5,233 per month in Turgi 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, 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 $2,947 per month in Turgi 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 Turgi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 155% 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 $852, than in Turgi at $3,489. 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 $3,489 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.