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Ayutthaya vs Chiang Mai cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇹🇭 Ayutthaya
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
At a glance
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Massage (17%↓), Taxi (17%↓)
- Where Ayutthaya is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (66%↓), Transit (33%↓), Studio rent (month) (33%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chiang Mai is easier to travel (2.4 vs 2.8). Biggest gap: getting around — Ayutthaya 3 vs Chiang Mai 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Ayutthaya | Chiang Mai | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 80$2.42 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 50$1.52 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 400$12.1 | Ayutthaya −25% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ฿ 75$2.27 | Ayutthaya −13% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 85$2.58 | Chiang Mai −15% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 180$5.45 | ฿ 180$5.45 | similar |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 10$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 20$0.61 | ฿ 20$0.61 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 120$3.64 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 60$1.82 | ฿ 60$1.82 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 20$0.61 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Ayutthaya −33% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 250$7.58 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,100$33.3 | ฿ 1,100$33.3 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 7,000$212 | ฿ 10,500$318 | Ayutthaya −33% |
| Laundry | ฿ 40$1.21 | ฿ 35$1.06 | Chiang Mai −13% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 299$9.06 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 150$4.55 | ฿ 150$4.55 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 250$7.58 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 800$24.2 | ฿ 800$24.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 145$4.39 | Ayutthaya −66% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Ayutthaya or Chiang Mai?
Ayutthaya is 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai. Daily budget $64.2 vs $66.9; a month $1,058 vs $1,232.
Which is easier to travel, Ayutthaya or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is easier: Chiang Mai 2.4/5 vs Ayutthaya 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ayutthaya is about $1,058 and Chiang Mai about $1,232 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.