This is great! You’ve made a decision to move to a new city and you’re considering living in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
All sorts of things need to be considered when moving to a new place, but most important of all is determining – how much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai?
Whether you’re going to be here for a short time or a long time you’re curious to know how much money do you need to live comfortably in Chiang Mai? What is the cost of living in Chiang Mai?
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How expensive is Chiang Mai?
When comparing the cost of living in Chiang Mai to other cities in Thailand, Chiang Mai is more affordable than say Bangkok. It’s also cheaper and more convenient to live in Chiang Mai compared to the islands or beach destinations. Best of all there are plenty of free things to do with the family or with friends.
So let’s take a look at how much you can expect to pay for things when living in Chiang Mai.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai?
Costs depend on many factors and will differ depending on whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with a family. In this article, we’ll cover the cost of basic things such as food, utilities, transportation, housing, and clothing. We’ll also look at the cost of extras such as insurance, medical care, visas, and entertainment.
Table of Contents
- How Much Does Food Cost In Chiang Mai?
- What are Housing Costs in Chiang Mai?
- What Do Utilities Cost in Chiang Mai?
- How Much Does Transportation Cost In Chiang Mai?
- How Much Do Clothes Cost In Chiang Mai?
- How Much Do Schools Cost in Chiang Mai?
- How Much Is Health insurance?
- What Does Medical Care Cost In Chiang Mai?
- How Much Does Medicine Cost in Chiang Mai?
- How Much Do Visas Cost?
- What Does Nightlife Cost in Chiang Mai?
- Conclusion
How Much Does Food Cost In Chiang Mai?
Food can be found everywhere in Chiang Mai. You can buy meals at food stalls, on the street, in markets, at restaurants, and in supermarkets. Most people eat street food or market food. The reason for this is that it can be cheaper than cooking a home meal and also because the majority of apartments don’t have full kitchens.
It’s simply more convenient to buy street food! It’s cooked fresh, is safe to eat and you can get a simple meal for only 25 baht (72 cents).
Going to a restaurant in Chiang Mai means you’ll be paying higher prices, but often a good meal will cost in the range of 50 baht to 300 baht (about $1.50-$12). If you want to splurge, a nice steak might cost 1,000 baht (about $30).
A lot of people use Grab to order meals right to their door. This can cost in the range of 100 baht to over 1,000 baht ($3-$30) depending on how many people you’re ordering for and what you’ve ordered.
How Much Do Groceries Cost in Chiang Mai?
Of course, you may tire of eating out or ordering in all of the time. A home-cooked meal is nice, especially if you’ve got picky eaters.
There are many places such as markets to supermarkets to buy food from. In Chiang Mai the main supermarkets or grocery stores are:
- Rimping
- Big C
- Macro
- Lotus’s
- Mini-Big C
- Mini-Macro
- Tops
- Central Food Hall (Central Festival Mall)
What can you expect to pay for groceries in Chiang Mai? Well, a single person could probably get away with spending 400 baht for a week’s worth of food. A family of 4 might spend between 1,200 to 2,000 baht a week, or more (about $35-$50).
Macro is a bulk buy box store where you can find more than just food and is the best option for families as you’ll save money shopping here. Rimping and Central Food Hall are the most expensive places to shop for food in Chiang Mai because they import much of their food from overseas. They are great if you’re looking for a treat from home.
What are Housing Costs in Chiang Mai?
The first thing to think about is where do you want to live in Chiang Mai? Do you want to live in a house or a condo? Do you want to live in a gated community, downtown, or in a Thai village? Each choice comes with different costs.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A House In Chiang Mai?
Most families choose to live in a gated community called a moo baan. There are some great moo baans in Chiang Mai that are perfect for families!
Moo baans are however more expensive to live in. Renting a house in a moo baan ranges between 18,000 baht ($525) and go upwards of 40,000 baht ($1,165). The rent may or may not include a community management fee (which differs between moo baans). Also, utilities aren’t included.
Renting a house in Chiang Mai in a Thai village can cost as low as 8,000 baht ($283) and goes up to 20,000 baht ($583). Sometimes rent can cost more, but that’s only if you’re living in a mansion or a house with a pool.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Condo In Chiang Mai?
It’s possible to rent a simple studio apartment for 6,000 baht per month (140 pounds). Some condo rentals go for as much as 20,000 baht (466 pounds) or above, but this isn’t typical.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent An Apartment In Chiang Mai?
Apartments are also a popular choice but typically you only get a simple one room apartment. Rent for one of these apartments can be as low as 3,000 baht per month (about $90).
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Serviced Apartment In Chiang Mai?
Serviced apartments in Chiang Mai are a great alternative. There are specific buildings that do this and even hotels offer this living arrangement. The monthly rent for a serviced apartment in Chiang Mai starts at 3,000 baht per month and the best part is you get maid service once a week!
What Do Utilities Cost in Chiang Mai?
How Much Does Electricity Cost in Chiang Mai?
Electricity is charged monthly and is rarely included in rent. Electrical rates and fees are determined by usage and time of year. If you like, You can calculate your expected electricity rate here.
Note that electricity rates increase in the hot season from April through June. Rates vary between 2.2-4.4 baht per unit (6-13 cents). Depending on usage and the size of your home, electricity bills in Chiang Mai can be between 150 baht to 6,000 baht ($4.40 – $175) and up.
Also, note that condos may charge a different rate that is more than the government set rate.
Water Costs
Water costs in Chiang Mai are ridiculously low. City water is very, very affordable. Sometimes water bills are only 20 baht and should not be over 200 baht per month. However, water gets even cheaper if you have a pump system.
With a pump system, you don’t pay for water! Instead, water is pumped from the ground water source and you pay for the electricity to run your pump.
If you live in a condo, they charge a water fee. Check with your condo or the person you’re renting from to find out if that fee is built into the monthly rent.
How Much Does Internet Cost in Chiang Mai?
Compared to countries like Canada, the internet in Chiang Mai is so cheap! You can choose from a few different internet providers in Chiang Mai such as Sinet, 3BB, or TrueMove. Make sure to ask about promotions! Some internet providers Include a TV box that gives you access to Netflix, HBO, and sports channels on your Smart TV.
At the moment, internet in Chiang Mai costs between 299 baht to 1,699 baht per month ($9-$50)
How Much Do Cell Phone Plans Cost in Chiang Mai?
Nobody uses a landline anymore. It’s all about mobile and internet plans on your phone. In Thailand, you can get prepaid or monthly plans through the largest providers, AIS or True.
Prepaid plans cost as little as 20 baht, but it’s possible to get through the month without paying anything if you connect to wifi all the time. Monthly phone plans can cost 35 baht a day or up to 399 a month ($1-$12). This is unbelievably cheap!
How Much Does Transportation Cost In Chiang Mai?
Not to worry, getting around Chiang Mai is easy and cheap! In fact, there are over 10 ways to get around Chiang Mai and it can cost as little as 30 baht ($1)!
If you need to rent a car, car rentals usually start at 1,000 baht ($30) per day.
You can also rent motorbikes which cost about 150 baht ($5) a day.
Oh, and we should mention flights. The cost of flights for domestic travel is insanely cheap. Prior to rising gas prices, you could get a flight to Bangkok for about 1,000 baht ($30) or a flight to Phuket for only 1,500 baht ($45). Even international travel is affordable from Chiang Mai.
How Much Do Clothes Cost In Chiang Mai?
Clothes can be unbelievably affordable here. Personally, I’ve bought entirely new wardrobes of clothes for my kids for about $60. There are loads of markets and second hand shops that sell name brand clothes and shoes. You can get clothes for a mere 10 baht (30 cents), or Nike shoes for 1,000 baht ($30).
In the malls you will find brands you’re familiar with such as H&M but their prices are western prices and most people here wait for their mega sales to buy clothing.
How Much Do Schools Cost in Chiang Mai?
If you have school-aged children, the cost of schools in Chiang Mai should definitely be on your radar. Schooling is not free in Thailand for foreigners. From nursery school all the way to secondary school, you’ll have to pay term or annual fees. The Guide to Schools in Chiang Mai will give you specific details including enrollment fees.
School fees range from 20,000 – 715,000 baht ($600-$20,834). The lower fee reflects nursery school costs and the upper fee reflects secondary schooling.
How Much Is Health Insurance?
As of May 1st, 2022, you’re still required to have Covid insurance of up to $10,000 USD to enter the country. Other than Covid insurance, you can choose to have health insurance, travel insurance, or life insurance or not.
Health plans vary in price according to provider, age, preexisting conditions, and length of stay. Always shop around or ask for opinions before settling on a health insurance plan.
What Does Medical Care Cost In Chiang Mai?
There are so many hospitals and clinics in Chiang Mai each with its own price range. If you don’t have health insurance, your best bet is a clinic. They’re generally more affordable than hospitals. For example, you can get a general check-up for 80 to 400 baht ($2.30-$12).
Visiting a hospital in Chiang Mai can cost between 1,200 – and go above 10,000 baht ($35-$292). If you’re in need of serious care, costs can easily go into the hundreds of thousands of baht. It’s definitely a good idea to consider health insurance, especially if you have a family.
How Much Does Medicine Cost in Chiang Mai?
Medicine prices are just – wow! You can get Tylenol or Ibuprofen for 30 baht ($1). You can get your prescription (most of them anyways) over the counter here for waaaay more than half of of what you’d pay in your home country. You can also get the cheaper generic version of your medicines here all over the counter! Find out where to get medicine in Chiang Mai here.
How Much Do Visas Cost?
Another important factor to consider is the cost of your visa to enter or stay in Thailand. Residents of certain countries can enter Thailand on a free tourist visa called a visa on arrival. But this only gives you 30 days in Thailand. To stay longer, you’ll need to pay for a visa. Visa costs depend on type, length and purpose and can get expensive if everyone in your family requires one. You can expect to pay at least 40,000 baht ($1,165) if you wish to stay in Thailand for up to one year.
What’s the Cost of Nightlife In Chiang Mai?
Of course, you’re going to have to budget for some nightlife! Nightlife in Chiang Mai usually involves heading out to a local bar. If you’re a drinker, beer in Chiang Mai costs between 60-120 baht ($2-$4), and cocktails generally start at 120 baht ($4). Most people spend between 1,000 – and 2,000 baht ($30-$60) on a good night out. A family night out would probably cost a minimum of 2,000 baht ($60)
So, How Much Does It Cost To Live In Chiang Mai?
Ultimately, determining your costs and budget is something you’ll need to sit down and calculate, but hopefully, this guide to the cost of living in Chiang Mai has provided you with valuable insights.
To give you a ballpark estimate of costs (not including visas, insurance, and other extra costs), the Chiang Mai community proposes that a single person can live quite comfortably on 30,000 baht ($1,000) per month. If you’re a family with kids, you would need at least double that, 60,000 baht ($2,000) per month to get by. Personally, I would recommend a larger budget if you have kids as that suggestion doesn’t account for school fees.
Chiang Mai Family Guide hopes you’ve found what you need and just in case, here’s another resource to give you very specific day-to-day costs.
