😐A single person spends $2,061 per month in Xghajra vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,089 per month in Xghajra vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,116 per month in Xghajra vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Xghajra costs about 117% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Xghajra sits 49% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.24€17.45
$2.10฿69.3
863.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.4€76.2
$19.84฿656
345.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.01€12.08
$5.79฿191
141.97%
Cappuccino
$2.86€2.46
$1.83฿60.4
56.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$0.78฿25.61
321.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.95
$0.31฿10.37
632.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.76€4.11
$2.34฿77.2
103.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27€4.54
$3.70฿122
42.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$2.03฿67.1
-29.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35€1.16
$1.60฿52.7
-15.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.37€3.76
$1.42฿46.75
207.75%
Eggs
$4.42€3.81
$2.18฿71.9
102.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59€7.41
$15.91฿526
-46.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.72€9.24
$3.07฿102
249.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.80€16.21
$9.87฿326
90.48%
Apples(1kg)
$4.35€3.75
$2.63฿86.8
65.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92€2.52
$1.10฿36.19
165.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78€3.26
$1.63฿53.8
131.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$1.53฿50.6
126.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50€2.16
$1.24฿41.13
101.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.84
$1.13฿37.37
89.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45€2.11
$0.74฿24.38
231.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$0.50฿16.48
170.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.03
$4.28฿141
63.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65€7.46
$17.97฿594
-51.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$1.70฿56.1
6.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$2.90฿95.7
-16.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52€2.17
$0.94฿31.13
168.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.12
$1.23฿40.76
382.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.01
$0.53฿17.66
341.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.94€24.08
$2.40฿79.3
1064.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56€1.35
$1.44฿47.55
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.2K
$21.2K฿700.2K
81.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K€34.8K
$27.3K฿902.1K
47.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107€91.9
$64.9฿2,145
64.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.93€22.35
$13.35฿441
94.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.49€38.35
$20.83฿688
113.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.0€56.9
$40.42฿1,336
63.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.57€9.11
$6.71฿222
57.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384€331
$787฿26.0K
-51.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,823
$15.1K฿499.6K
-24.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€76.8
$56.2฿1,858
58.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.42€36.56
$24.95฿824
70.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.8
$92.7฿3,063
12.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4€70.2
$75.1฿2,482
8.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,168€1,007
$484฿16.0K
141.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$965€832
$287฿9,491
235.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,874€1,615
$910฿30.1K
106.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,546€1,332
$531฿17.5K
191.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,941€3,397
$1,980฿65.4K
99.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,935€2,530
$1,451฿47.9K
102.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xghajra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
5.57
-47.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xghajra: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,168 in Xghajra versus $484 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 $88.0 in Xghajra versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $242 – 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
Xghajra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Xghajra or Chiang Mai?
Xghajra costs about 117% 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 Xghajra and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,092 per month in Xghajra and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Xghajra 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 Xghajra and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Xghajra and $20.00 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 Xghajra or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Xghajra, 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 Xghajra or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Xghajra at $2,061. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Xghajra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Xghajra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,061 in Xghajra. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Xghajra 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 Xghajra or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xghajra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.