😐A single person spends $994 per month in Vryheid vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,529 per month in Vryheid vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,064 per month in Vryheid vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vryheid costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Vryheid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Vryheid25% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.45R 124
$2.04฿68.4
265.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.39R 473
$18.71฿626
51.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07R 84.4
$7.86฿263
-35.50%
Cappuccino
$2.00R 33.23
$2.03฿67.9
-1.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.49
$0.80฿26.71
8.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72R 11.95
$0.35฿11.71
105.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93R 32.12
$2.14฿71.7
-9.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R 36.90
$3.67฿123
-39.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05R 17.45
$1.73฿57.8
-39.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96R 16.06
$1.57฿52.5
-38.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41R 23.43
$1.20฿40.10
17.50%
Eggs
$2.21R 36.78
$1.97฿66.0
12.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.50R 125
$16.23฿543
-53.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57R 76.2
$3.06฿102
49.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.23R 104
$10.80฿361
-42.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50R 25.00
$2.77฿92.6
-45.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36R 22.71
$1.17฿39.05
16.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31R 21.84
$1.71฿57.1
-23.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31R 21.86
$1.59฿53.3
-17.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30R 21.69
$1.39฿46.63
-6.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23R 20.48
$1.16฿38.67
6.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R 16.32
$0.66฿22.11
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92R 15.30
$0.52฿17.35
76.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09R 51.6
$4.65฿155
-33.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.90R 81.6
$17.78฿595
-72.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45R 24.07
$1.79฿59.8
-18.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69R 28.22
$3.34฿112
-49.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62R 26.91
$0.91฿30.35
78.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿624
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.64R 27.27
$1.41฿47.17
16.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58R 9.74
$1.34฿44.82
-56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.53R 109
$8.11฿271
-19.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31R 21.83
$1.23฿41.27
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KR 329.3K
$21.4K฿717.0K
-7.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KR 405.7K
$21.8K฿730.0K
11.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144R 2,406
$71.3฿2,386
102.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.72R 495
$14.01฿469
112.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07R 568
$17.93฿600
90.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.98R 516
$40.82฿1,365
-24.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.87R 114
$5.72฿191
20.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R 3,395
$308฿10.3K
-33.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,677R 77.9K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-68.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.45R 691
$55.8฿1,865
-25.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.82R 497
$26.04฿871
14.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6R 1,560
$84.8฿2,837
10.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2R 1,219
$71.0฿2,375
3.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370R 6,164
$423฿14.2K
-12.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338R 5,633
$242฿8,110
39.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$679R 11.3K
$797฿26.7K
-14.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701R 11.7K
$507฿17.0K
38.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$816R 13.6K
$1,918฿64.2K
-57.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$596R 9,927
$1,464฿49.0K
-59.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vryheid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $370 in Vryheid versus $423 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 – $168 in Vryheid vs $244 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 17% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,491 per month in Vryheid and $1,279 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 and in 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 in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 46% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $994 in Vryheid and $852 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 $852 versus $994 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 to 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.