Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuy Hoa and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Tuy Hoa: $748 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tuy Hoa
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$748
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tuy Hoa and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tuy Hoa and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $748 per month in Tuy Hoa vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tuy Hoa $748
  • Chiang Mai $906

A couple spends around $1,213 per month in Tuy Hoa vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tuy Hoa $1,213
  • Chiang Mai $1,385

A family of three spends $1,678 per month in Tuy Hoa vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tuy Hoa $1,678
  • Chiang Mai $1,864

Tuy Hoa is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Tuy Hoa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tuy Hoa 44% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68 ₫69.5K
$2.13 ฿71.4
25.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.49 ₫607.9K
$19.40 ฿650
21.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 ₫119.8K
$5.47 ฿183
-15.36%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.1K
$1.68 ฿56.5
-2.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₫9,387
$0.66 ฿22.11
-45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ₫5,971
$0.34 ฿11.52
-32.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.65 ₫16.8K
$2.42 ฿81.1
-73.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₫31.1K
$3.73 ฿125
-67.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ₫36.5K
$2.06 ฿69.0
-31.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.44 ₫11.4K
$1.46 ฿48.81
-69.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 ₫26.8K
$1.35 ฿45.11
-22.96%
Eggs
$1.37 ₫35.6K
$2.27 ฿76.0
-39.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 ₫305.7K
$16.31 ฿547
-27.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ₫79.1K
$2.70 ฿90.4
13.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.01 ₫285.0K
$9.20 ฿308
19.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 ₫50.8K
$2.39 ฿80.2
-17.99%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 ₫21.5K
$1.04 ฿34.68
-20.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.5K
$1.60 ฿53.7
-33.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ₫30.7K
$1.44 ฿48.39
-17.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ₫20.4K
$1.30 ฿43.62
-39.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 ₫17.0K
$1.11 ฿37.32
-40.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 ₫20.4K
$0.70 ฿23.57
12.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₫9,858
$0.51 ฿17.00
-25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55 ₫40.2K
$4.13 ฿138
-62.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.39 ₫294.8K
$17.78 ฿596
-35.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$1.63 ฿54.7
-62.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₫47.9K
$2.87 ฿96.1
-35.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₫7,643
$0.86 ฿28.77
-65.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.60 ₫170.7K
$53.2 ฿1,781
-87.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 ₫14.4K
$1.22 ฿40.84
-54.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 ₫15.4K
$0.56 ฿18.82
5.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.60 ₫67.3K
$2.31 ฿77.5
12.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 ₫22.6K
$1.50 ฿50.2
-42.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K ₫791.1M
$20.9K ฿698.7K
46.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K ₫733.4M
$26.7K ฿895.6K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.2 ₫1.9M
$61.3 ฿2,052
22.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.65 ₫172.1K
$12.50 ฿419
-46.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.18 ₫237.6K
$20.36 ฿682
-54.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.53 ₫583.1K
$37.94 ฿1,271
-40.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.92 ₫179.2K
$3.77 ฿126
83.55%
Cinema Ticket
$1.94 ₫50.2K
$6.60 ฿221
-70.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 ₫5.4M
$774 ฿25.9K
-73.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,820 ₫98.9M
$14.4K ฿483.5K
-73.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.52 ₫1.1M
$54.8 ฿1,836
-24.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.19 ₫626.0K
$25.26 ฿846
-4.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.70 ₫1.3M
$90.6 ฿3,034
-46.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 ₫2.1M
$73.3 ฿2,454
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ₫9.8M
$459 ฿15.4K
-17.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 ₫8.1M
$294 ฿9,841
6.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 ₫19.7M
$919 ฿30.8K
-17.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 ₫13.7M
$552 ฿18.5K
-4.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 ₫72.1M
$1,917 ฿64.2K
45.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,298 ₫33.6M
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-10.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tuy Hoa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$592 ฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.46
5.57
51.89%

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

Last update for Tuy Hoa: October 4, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tuy Hoa
$312
Chiang Mai
$294 5.8% $18
Groceries & Markets
Tuy Hoa
$178
Chiang Mai
$236 32.7% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tuy Hoa
$91
Chiang Mai
$94 3.3% $3
Clothing & Footwear
Tuy Hoa
$88
Chiang Mai
$110 25.2% $22
Eating Out
Tuy Hoa
$63
Chiang Mai
$77 22.8% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Tuy Hoa
$26
Chiang Mai
$51 93.6% $25
Getting Around
Tuy Hoa
$11
Chiang Mai
$61 437% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Tuy Hoa versus $459 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 $23.00 in Tuy Hoa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Tuy Hoa vs $236 in Chiang Mai – so Tuy Hoa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Tuy Hoa
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
08:44 8:44 AM
08:44 8:44 AM
Same time as Tuy Hoa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
202,030
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 25,879 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,003 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 33.5 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tuy Hoa Chiang Mai 1,270 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tuy Hoa
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tuy Hoa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tuy Hoa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Tuy Hoa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Tuy Hoa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,122 per month in Tuy Hoa and $1,359 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tuy Hoa or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuy Hoa, 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 Tuy Hoa and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $208 per month in Tuy Hoa and $774 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 Tuy Hoa or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $1,500/month in Tuy Hoa or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tuy Hoa, where all-in costs run around $748, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Tuy Hoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tuy Hoa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tuy Hoa costs $748 versus $906 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tuy Hoa 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 Tuy Hoa or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tuy Hoa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Tuy Hoa vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?