Cost of living · Thailand
Cost of living in Chiang Mai (2026)
For one person renting a one-bed, Chiang Mai runs about $738/month on a budget and around $1197/month living comfortably — rent included, with the rent line taken from real current listings. Here's where the money goes.
Monthly budget breakdown
Baseline: one person, one-bed apartment, getting around by scooter, eating out. Adjust it in the calculator →
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed) · from 15 current listings | $389 | $389 |
| Food & eating out | $170 | $370 |
| Transport | $50 | $90 |
| Utilities & internet | $45 | $100 |
| Phone / SIM | $4 | $8 |
| Fun & misc | $80 | $240 |
| Total | $738 | $1197 |
Rent in Chiang Mai by home size
Live figures are the median of current listings; the rest are typical asking prices.
Studio
$230/mo
typical asking price
1-bed
$389/mo
median of 15 current listings
2-bed
$306/mo
median of 8 current listings
3-bed+
$806/mo
median of 25 current listings
Right now there are 51 current Chiang Mai rentals — homes from $167/month. Browse them →
Watch: what rentals in Chiang Mai look like
Chiang Mai cost of living FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai per month?
A single person renting a one-bed typically spends about $738/month on a budget and around $1197/month living comfortably in Chiang Mai — including rent. Couples and families scale mainly on the food, transport and utilities lines.
How much is rent in Chiang Mai?
Typical monthly rents in Chiang Mai run roughly: Studio ~$230, 1-bed ~$389, 2-bed ~$306, 3-bed+ ~$806. Right now there are 51 current listings, with homes from $167/month.
Is Chiang Mai cheap compared to other Southeast Asian cities?
Chiang Mai ranks 3 of 8 (1 = cheapest) among the cities we track, by baseline monthly budget. Use the calculator to compare cities side by side with your own lifestyle.