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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,008 per month in Zepce vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Zepce vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,053 per month in Zepce vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zepce costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zepce and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zepce 25% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.64 BAM 14.51

$1.94 ฿63.5

345.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.42 BAM 69.6

$18.64 ฿609

122.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 BAM 15.17

$7.82 ฿255

15.47%

Cappuccino

$1.57 BAM 2.64

$1.95 ฿63.8

-19.49%

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

$1.94 BAM 3.25

$0.85 ฿27.77

128.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$0.35 ฿11.58

228.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 BAM 3.53

$2.13 ฿69.6

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 BAM 4.66

$3.73 ฿122

-25.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BAM 2.26

$1.71 ฿56.0

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$1.63 ฿53.2

-22.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 BAM 2.63

$1.14 ฿37.15

36.84%

Eggs

$3.00 BAM 5.04

$1.93 ฿63.1

55.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 BAM 15.72

$16.21 ฿530

-42.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.56 BAM 14.39

$3.12 ฿102

174.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 BAM 20.33

$10.90 ฿356

11.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$2.75 ฿90.0

-48.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.21 ฿39.52

34.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.62 ฿53.0

19.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 BAM 3.39

$1.59 ฿51.8

27.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.40 ฿45.70

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 BAM 2.13

$1.17 ฿38.17

8.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.05

$0.66 ฿21.60

84.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.53 ฿17.22

45.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.33

$4.69 ฿153

-19.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.24 BAM 13.85

$18.66 ฿609

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.19

$1.80 ฿58.8

-60.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 BAM 1.91

$3.23 ฿106

-64.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$0.90 ฿29.26

95.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.83 BAM 60.2

$19.21 ฿628

86.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.41 ฿45.91

6.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$1.29 ฿42.12

-10.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 BAM 14.74

$7.84 ฿256

11.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.27 ฿41.58

15.75%

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

$28.7K BAM 48.2K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

34.83%

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

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

18.73%

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

$169 BAM 284

$69.1 ฿2,256

144.72%

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

$18.80 BAM 31.59

$14.08 ฿460

33.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.60 BAM 39.66

$18.00 ฿588

31.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.62 BAM 49.76

$41.06 ฿1,341

-27.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 BAM 18.64

$6.96 ฿227

59.34%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 BAM 4.87

$5.92 ฿193

-51.01%

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

$240 BAM 404

$299 ฿9,766

-19.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,688 BAM 6,196

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-75.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 BAM 125

$54.7 ฿1,787

36.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.25 BAM 62.6

$26.77 ฿874

39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 BAM 151

$85.0 ฿2,776

5.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 206

$70.6 ฿2,306

73.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 436

$428 ฿14.0K

-39.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 BAM 280

$237 ฿7,752

-29.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 BAM 607

$801 ฿26.2K

-54.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BAM 538

$515 ฿16.8K

-37.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,375 BAM 3,991

$1,975 ฿64.5K

20.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 BAM 3,061

$1,475 ฿48.2K

23.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

0.40%

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

Last update for Zepce: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Zepce 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 $41.00 in Zepce versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Zepce vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Zepce 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

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

Zepce costs about 16% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,512 per month in Zepce and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $240 per month in Zepce and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Zepce – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,008 in Zepce and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,008 in Zepce. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zepce makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.