Cost of Living in Chiang Mai
A practical monthly budget for living in Chiang Mai across three comfort levels, with notes on the choices that move the needle most.
รายละเอียดงบประมาณรายเดือน
หมวดหมู่งบประมาณกลางสบาย
Rent (1BR)฿8,000฿15,000฿30,000
Food & dining฿6,000฿12,000฿25,000
Transport฿1,500฿3,000฿8,000
Utilities & internet฿1,500฿2,500฿4,000
Total฿17,000฿32,500฿67,000
What drives your budget
Rent and dining habits are by far the biggest levers. A fan room in an older block versus a pool-access condo in Nimman can triple your housing cost, while cooking at home or eating at local shops keeps food spend remarkably low.
Getting around
Many residents use a scooter (rent from ~2,500/month) for day-to-day trips, supplemented by Grab for longer or rainy journeys. A car becomes worthwhile mainly for families or frequent out-of-town travel.