Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $840 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,267 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,694 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ulu Tiram is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ulu Tiram and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ulu Tiram 38% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.30

$1.98 ฿64.3

78.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.65 MYR 75.6

$18.80 ฿612

-0.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.66

$7.75 ฿252

-37.42%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$1.92 ฿62.5

44.79%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.92

$0.79 ฿25.79

-8.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.36 ฿11.62

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.47

$2.21 ฿72.1

95.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 27.43

$3.66 ฿119

84.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.55

$1.65 ฿53.8

12.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$1.63 ฿53.2

-43.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.22

$1.19 ฿38.86

8.40%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.72

$2.00 ฿65.1

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 MYR 43.86

$15.98 ฿520

-32.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 MYR 16.06

$3.03 ฿98.5

30.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 MYR 32.93

$10.86 ฿354

-25.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.20

$2.76 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.14

$1.18 ฿38.42

27.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.35

$1.64 ฿53.5

55.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$1.52 ฿49.51

-17.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.38 ฿45.10

-15.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.37

$1.19 ฿38.84

10.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$0.70 ฿22.86

32.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.53

$0.56 ฿18.13

10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.66

$4.58 ฿149

-10.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 MYR 69.8

$16.56 ฿539

3.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 MYR 11.17

$1.83 ฿59.5

50.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.18

$3.20 ฿104

-6.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.88 ฿28.56

-22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 48.58

$18.72 ฿610

-36.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$1.36 ฿44.16

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$1.34 ฿43.65

-26.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.35 MYR 37.90

$7.84 ฿256

19.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

$1.23 ฿39.92

-59.35%

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

$35.3K MYR 143.1K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

63.20%

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

$33.1K MYR 134.4K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

46.98%

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

$45.96 MYR 186

$70.5 ฿2,298

-34.85%

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

$9.33 MYR 37.82

$13.68 ฿445

-31.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.60 MYR 124

$17.45 ฿568

75.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.60 MYR 152

$41.33 ฿1,346

-9.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.72 MYR 23.19

$6.96 ฿227

-17.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 20.32

$5.77 ฿188

-13.17%

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

$188 MYR 763

$307 ฿10.0K

-38.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,893 MYR 27.9K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-52.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 MYR 259

$55.8 ฿1,817

14.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 MYR 77.0

$26.21 ฿854

-27.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 MYR 284

$85.8 ฿2,793

-18.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.07 MYR 191

$72.2 ฿2,353

-34.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$430 ฿14.0K

-9.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,083

$239 ฿7,774

11.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,581

$817 ฿26.6K

-22.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,914

$511 ฿16.6K

-7.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 MYR 8,025

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-0.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$971 MYR 3,938

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-34.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$863 MYR 3,500

$619 ฿20.2K

39.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

-18.60%

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

Last update for Ulu Tiram: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Ulu Tiram 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 39% higher in Ulu Tiram, 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 $19.00 in Ulu Tiram versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $241 – making Ulu Tiram 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

Ulu Tiram vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Ulu Tiram, 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 $1,260 per month in Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $188 per month in Ulu Tiram and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $840 in Ulu Tiram and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulu Tiram costs $840 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. 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 Ulu Tiram. 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.