😐A single person spends $985 per month in Vryheid vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,503 per month in Vryheid vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Vryheid vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vryheid costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Vryheid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Vryheid27% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35R 119
$1.98฿64.3
271.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.56R 446
$18.80฿612
46.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01R 81.0
$7.75฿252
-35.35%
Cappuccino
$1.99R 32.21
$1.92฿62.5
3.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92R 14.95
$0.79฿25.79
16.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71R 11.51
$0.36฿11.62
97.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99R 32.13
$2.21฿72.1
-9.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26R 36.57
$3.66฿119
-38.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04R 16.85
$1.65฿53.8
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97R 15.70
$1.63฿53.2
-40.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44R 23.23
$1.19฿38.86
21.01%
Eggs
$2.12R 34.28
$2.00฿65.1
6.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54R 122
$15.98฿520
-52.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.59R 74.2
$3.03฿98.5
51.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.46R 104
$10.86฿354
-40.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56R 25.18
$2.76฿90.0
-43.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42R 22.88
$1.18฿38.42
20.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37R 22.15
$1.64฿53.5
-16.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36R 21.99
$1.52฿49.51
-10.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26R 20.42
$1.38฿45.10
-8.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22R 19.65
$1.19฿38.84
2.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03R 16.65
$0.70฿22.86
47.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95R 15.37
$0.56฿18.13
69.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16R 51.0
$4.58฿149
-31.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.95R 80.0
$16.56฿539
-70.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47R 23.77
$1.83฿59.5
-19.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68R 27.22
$3.20฿104
-47.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60R 25.92
$0.88฿28.56
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72R 27.79
$1.36฿44.16
26.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63R 10.14
$1.34฿43.65
-52.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.84R 111
$7.84฿256
-12.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 20.74
$1.23฿39.92
4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KR 324.9K
$21.6K฿704.3K
-7.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KR 388.9K
$22.5K฿734.3K
6.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142R 2,290
$70.5฿2,298
100.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.14R 471
$13.68฿445
113.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.84R 547
$17.45฿568
93.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.47R 509
$41.33฿1,346
-23.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.92R 112
$5.77฿188
19.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202R 3,274
$307฿10.0K
-34.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,653R 75.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-68.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.25R 683
$55.8฿1,817
-24.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.67R 480
$26.21฿854
13.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9R 1,517
$85.8฿2,793
9.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.3R 1,169
$72.2฿2,353
0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369R 5,962
$430฿14.0K
-14.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334R 5,395
$239฿7,774
39.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689R 11.1K
$817฿26.6K
-15.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702R 11.4K
$511฿16.6K
37.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$999R 16.1K
$1,983฿64.6K
-49.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$620R 10.0K
$1,484฿48.3K
-58.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
5
140.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vryheid: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Vryheid 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Vryheid versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Vryheid vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Vryheid 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
Vryheid vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vryheid or Chiang Mai?
Vryheid costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Vryheid vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,478 per month in Vryheid and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vryheid 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 dining costs compare in Vryheid vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Vryheid and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Vryheid or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 42% cheaper in Vryheid – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Vryheid or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $985 in Vryheid and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vryheid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $985 in Vryheid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vryheid 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 Vryheid or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vryheid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.