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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $273 per month in Victoria vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $452 per month in Victoria vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $631 per month in Victoria vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Victoria is about 69% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Victoria and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Victoria 80% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$6.52 EC$17.59

$1.71 ฿56.0

281.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 EC$2.80

$1.63 ฿53.2

-36.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 EC$4.49

$1.14 ฿37.15

45.61%

Eggs

$3.76 EC$10.16

$1.93 ฿63.1

94.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 EC$22.39

$16.21 ฿530

-48.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 EC$12.06

$3.12 ฿102

43.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.52 EC$12.22

$10.90 ฿356

-58.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 EC$4.45

$1.21 ฿39.52

36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 EC$17.24

$1.59 ฿51.8

301.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 EC$6.80

$1.40 ฿45.70

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 EC$6.44

$1.17 ฿38.17

103.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 EC$5.06

$0.66 ฿21.60

183.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 EC$4.93

$0.53 ฿17.22

245.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 EC$20.27

$18.66 ฿609

-59.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 EC$4.89

$1.80 ฿58.8

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 EC$4.95

$3.23 ฿106

-43.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Victoria: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 218% more than Victoria, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $409 per month in Victoria and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $273 in Victoria and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $273 in Victoria and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Victoria costs $273 versus $866 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 Victoria. 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.