Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkmenabat and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkmenabat and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,095 per month in Turkmenabat vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,354 per month in Turkmenabat vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Turkmenabat vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Turkmenabat costs about 141% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Turkmenabat sits 56% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$57.7 TMT 194

$1.98 ฿64.3

2813.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 TMT 380

$18.80 ฿612

501.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$7.30 TMT 24.54

$1.92 ฿62.5

280.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TMT 2.75

$0.36 ฿11.62

127.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.56 TMT 18.69

$2.21 ฿72.1

151.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.51 TMT 48.75

$3.66 ฿119

296.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 TMT 14.54

$1.65 ฿53.8

162.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 TMT 14.25

$1.19 ฿38.86

256.30%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 TMT 29.10

$3.03 ฿98.5

185.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 TMT 14.01

$2.76 ฿90.0

51.09%

Banana (1kg)

$7.94 TMT 26.68

$1.18 ฿38.42

572.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.38 TMT 21.43

$1.64 ฿53.5

289.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 TMT 6.81

$1.52 ฿49.51

33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 TMT 3.88

$1.38 ฿45.10

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 TMT 2.93

$1.19 ฿38.84

-26.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 TMT 3.73

$0.56 ฿18.13

98.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.41 TMT 95.5

$4.58 ฿149

520.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 TMT 0.54

$0.88 ฿28.56

-81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.68 TMT 29.16

$18.72 ฿610

-53.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.64 TMT 29.02

$7.84 ฿256

10.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 TMT 1.51

$1.23 ฿39.92

-63.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ฿704.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿734.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,298

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$428 TMT 1,437

$17.45 ฿568

2350.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.6 TMT 284

$41.33 ฿1,346

104.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 TMT 70.7

$6.96 ฿227

202.30%

Cinema Ticket

$17.23 TMT 57.9

$5.77 ฿188

198.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$57.2 TMT 192

$307 ฿10.0K

-81.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 TMT 190

$26.21 ฿854

115.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$420 TMT 1,411

$85.8 ฿2,793

389.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$488 TMT 1,638

$72.2 ฿2,353

575.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 TMT 1,617

$430 ฿14.0K

11.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 TMT 977

$239 ฿7,774

21.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 TMT 3,861

$817 ฿26.6K

40.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 TMT 1,945

$511 ฿16.6K

13.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$521 TMT 1,752

$619 ฿20.2K

-15.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Turkmenabat: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Turkmenabat versus $430 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 19% 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 $113 in Turkmenabat versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Turkmenabat vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Turkmenabat 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

Turkmenabat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Turkmenabat costs about 141% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,143 per month in Turkmenabat and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $57.2 per month in Turkmenabat and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Turkmenabat – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Turkmenabat at $2,095. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turkmenabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,095 in Turkmenabat. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Turkmenabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.