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 $1,005 per month in Zepce vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,544 per month in Zepce vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Zepce vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zepce costs about 17% 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.63 BAM 14.75

$1.96 ฿65.9

340.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.27 BAM 70.6

$18.35 ฿617

124.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 BAM 15.29

$7.48 ฿252

19.52%

Cappuccino

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$2.02 ฿67.8

-22.28%

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

$1.99 BAM 3.40

$0.85 ฿28.52

134.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.05

$0.36 ฿11.97

233.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 BAM 3.63

$2.14 ฿71.9

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 BAM 4.92

$3.59 ฿121

-20.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 BAM 2.32

$1.65 ฿55.5

-17.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BAM 2.20

$1.57 ฿52.7

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.82

$1.19 ฿40.05

38.66%

Eggs

$2.92 BAM 5.00

$1.94 ฿65.1

50.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 BAM 15.84

$16.19 ฿545

-42.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.96 BAM 15.32

$2.99 ฿101

199.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.87 BAM 20.30

$10.94 ฿368

8.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 BAM 2.37

$2.71 ฿91.2

-49.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 BAM 2.73

$1.17 ฿39.27

36.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 BAM 3.33

$1.69 ฿56.8

15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.33

$1.60 ฿54.0

21.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.12

$1.38 ฿46.56

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 BAM 2.15

$1.20 ฿40.47

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$0.67 ฿22.51

91.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.29

$0.56 ฿18.74

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.64 BAM 6.22

$4.64 ฿156

-21.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.36 BAM 14.30

$17.62 ฿593

-52.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.21

$1.86 ฿62.6

-61.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.87

$3.30 ฿111

-66.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 BAM 3.02

$0.88 ฿29.70

101.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.81 BAM 59.5

$19.34 ฿651

79.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.46

$1.36 ฿45.92

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.34 ฿45.00

-13.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.81 BAM 15.07

$8.21 ฿276

7.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 BAM 2.62

$1.22 ฿41.20

25.41%

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

$28.4K BAM 48.6K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

33.08%

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

$27.1K BAM 46.4K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

20.41%

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

$171 BAM 293

$70.7 ฿2,378

142.45%

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

$18.89 BAM 32.31

$14.04 ฿472

34.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.98 BAM 41.02

$17.49 ฿589

37.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.94 BAM 51.2

$42.15 ฿1,418

-28.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 BAM 18.73

$6.88 ฿231

59.16%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 BAM 4.93

$5.92 ฿199

-51.35%

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

$236 BAM 404

$309 ฿10.4K

-23.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,638 BAM 6,222

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-75.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.7 BAM 129

$55.8 ฿1,876

35.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 BAM 61.4

$26.11 ฿879

37.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 BAM 150

$83.0 ฿2,793

5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BAM 214

$70.5 ฿2,371

77.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 BAM 438

$432 ฿14.5K

-40.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 285

$239 ฿8,040

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 633

$822 ฿27.7K

-54.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 535

$512 ฿17.2K

-38.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,872 BAM 4,912

$1,915 ฿64.4K

50.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,967 BAM 3,364

$1,467 ฿49.4K

34.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Zepce versus $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Zepce vs $243 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 17% 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 $1,507 per month in Zepce and $1,292 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 $236 per month in Zepce and $309 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 6% 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 $1,005 in Zepce and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,005 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.