😐A single person spends $1,930 per month in Xaghra vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,835 per month in Xaghra vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,739 per month in Xaghra vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Xaghra costs about 123% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Xaghra sits 44% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.35€8.91
$1.94฿63.5
433.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3€59.7
$18.64฿609
271.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67€10.04
$7.82฿255
49.23%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$1.95฿63.8
40.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.32
$0.85฿27.77
216.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.70
$0.35฿11.58
462.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.67€4.02
$2.13฿69.6
119.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97€4.28
$3.73฿122
33.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.17
$1.71฿56.0
-21.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51€1.30
$1.63฿53.2
-7.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.44€2.96
$1.14฿37.15
201.75%
Eggs
$2.12€1.82
$1.93฿63.1
9.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.78€8.42
$16.21฿530
-39.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.59€9.12
$3.12฿102
239.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.78€11.86
$10.90฿356
26.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33€2.86
$2.75฿90.0
21.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.21฿39.52
61.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.62฿53.0
69.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30€2.84
$1.59฿51.8
107.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.40฿45.70
29.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87€2.47
$1.17฿38.17
145.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86€1.60
$0.66฿21.60
181.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.53฿17.22
71.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64€5.71
$4.69฿153
41.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.25€5.38
$18.66฿609
-66.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30€1.98
$1.80฿58.8
27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.54
$3.23฿106
-44.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.77€2.38
$0.90฿29.26
207.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.31€7.15
$1.41฿45.91
489.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88€1.62
$1.29฿42.12
45.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.33€30.42
$7.84฿256
350.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.27฿41.58
18.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$21.3K฿694.9K
24.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K€35.9K
$22.2K฿725.4K
87.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167€144
$69.1฿2,256
141.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.16€25.97
$14.08฿460
114.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.93€28.35
$18.00฿588
82.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.8€55.8
$41.06฿1,341
57.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56€20.28
$6.96฿227
238.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96€5.13
$5.92฿193
0.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$256€221
$299฿9,766
-14.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K€10.8K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-15.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.3
$54.7฿1,787
89.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.03€33.60
$26.77฿874
45.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142€123
$85.0฿2,776
67.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101€86.5
$70.6฿2,306
42.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149€990
$428฿14.0K
168.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$927€798
$237฿7,752
290.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,983€1,707
$801฿26.2K
147.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,475€1,270
$515฿16.8K
186.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,492€3,006
$1,975฿64.5K
76.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,646€2,278
$1,475฿48.2K
79.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xaghra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5
8.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xaghra: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,149 in Xaghra versus $428 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 $69.0 in Xaghra versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai 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
Xaghra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Xaghra or Chiang Mai?
Xaghra costs about 123% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Xaghra vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,895 per month in Xaghra and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Xaghra 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 Xaghra vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Xaghra 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 Xaghra or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Xaghra, 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 $1,000/month in Xaghra or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Xaghra at $1,930. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Xaghra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Xaghra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,930 in Xaghra. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Xaghra 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 Xaghra or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xaghra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.