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Cities / Chiang Mai / Cost of Living

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ Cost of Living in Chiang Mai

How much you'll actually spend โ€” not what travel blogs tell you

Monthly budget ยท Single ยท city center

$688/mo

Just you and your questionable life decisions

Rent(1BR)$463
Groceries & eating out$65
Transport$56
Utilities & phones$103
Average local salary (after tax)$636/mo

The real monthly damage

Rent โ€” the biggest line item

1BR, city center$463/mo
1BR, outside center$274/mo
3BR, city center$935/mo
3BR, outside center$540/mo

Source: Numbeo. Prices in USD unless toggled.

Grocery prices โ€” the supermarket reality check

Milk (1L)$1.91
Bread (loaf)$1.20
Eggs (12)$2.17
Rice (1kg)$0.80
Chicken (1kg)$3.00
Apples (1kg)$2.50
Tomatoes (1kg)$1.20
Potatoes (1kg)$1.50
Water (1.5L)$0.40
Wine (mid-range)$19
Beer (0.5L)$1.50

Eating out โ€” because you won't cook every night

Cheap meal$2.18
Mid-range dinner for 2$20
Cappuccino$1.84
Beer (draught)$2.50
Coke (0.33L)$1.00

Getting around โ€” or trying to

Monthly pass$56
Single ride$0.94
Taxi start$1.25
Taxi per km$0.40
Gasoline (1L)$1.25

30-day trial run

What a month-long scouting trip costs before you commit to anything permanent.

Short-term rental$695
Food (2 meals + coffee/day)$186
Transport (2 rides/day)$56
SIM card$14
Total 30 days$951

Chiang Mai vs. similar cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai?โ–ผ

A single person can expect to spend about $688/month in Chiang Mai, including rent in the city center, groceries, transport, and utilities. Couples need roughly $823/month.

What is the average salary in Chiang Mai?โ–ผ

The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Chiang Mai is about $636, according to Numbeo data.

Is Chiang Mai expensive compared to other cities?โ–ผ

Compared to similar cities: Batumi ($841/mo), Da Nang ($548/mo), Bangalore ($463/mo), Tashkent ($809/mo), Yerevan ($1,020/mo). Chiang Mai comes in at $688/mo for a single person.

Cost data sourced from Numbeo. Updated periodically.