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Brisbane vs Chiang Mai cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฆ๐บ Brisbane
๐น๐ญ Chiang Mai
At a glance
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (90%โ), Massage (87%โ), Local meal (85%โ)
- Where Brisbane is clearly cheaper: Transit (63%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Brisbane is easier to travel (1.4 vs 2.4). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Brisbane 1 vs Chiang Mai 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Brisbane | Chiang Mai | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | A$ 24$16 | เธฟ 80$2.42 | Chiang Mai โ85% |
| Street food1 item | A$ 15$10 | เธฟ 50$1.52 | Chiang Mai โ85% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | A$ 55$36.7 | เธฟ 400$12.1 | Chiang Mai โ67% |
| Coffeeone cup | A$ 6$4 | เธฟ 75$2.27 | Chiang Mai โ43% |
| Beerone bottle | A$ 12$8 | เธฟ 85$2.58 | Chiang Mai โ68% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | A$ 21$14 | เธฟ 180$5.45 | Chiang Mai โ61% |
| Bottled water | A$ 2.5$1.67 | เธฟ 10$0.3 | Chiang Mai โ82% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | A$ 4$2.67 | เธฟ 20$0.61 | Chiang Mai โ77% |
| Taxi5 km in town | A$ 18$12 | เธฟ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai โ75% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | A$ 10$6.67 | เธฟ 60$1.82 | Chiang Mai โ73% |
| Transitone ride | A$ 0.5$0.33 | เธฟ 30$0.91 | Brisbane โ63% |
| Scooter rentalper day | A$ 35$23.3 | เธฟ 250$7.58 | Chiang Mai โ68% |
| Hotel night3-star | A$ 180$120 | เธฟ 1,100$33.3 | Chiang Mai โ72% |
| Studio rent (month) | A$ 2,300$1,533 | เธฟ 10,500$318 | Chiang Mai โ79% |
| Laundry | A$ 5.5$3.67 | เธฟ 35$1.06 | Chiang Mai โ71% |
| SIM card1 week data | A$ 17$11.3 | เธฟ 299$9.06 | Chiang Mai โ20% |
| Haircutcut | A$ 40$26.7 | เธฟ 150$4.55 | Chiang Mai โ83% |
| Massage1 hour | A$ 85$56.7 | เธฟ 250$7.58 | Chiang Mai โ87% |
| Half-day tourper person | A$ 120$80 | เธฟ 800$24.2 | Chiang Mai โ70% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | A$ 63$42 | เธฟ 145$4.39 | Chiang Mai โ90% |
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, Brisbane or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is 75% cheaper than Brisbane. Daily budget $248 vs $66.9; a month $5,404 vs $1,232.
Which is easier to travel, Brisbane or Chiang Mai?
Brisbane is easier: Brisbane 1.4/5 vs Chiang Mai 2.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Brisbane and Chiang Mai?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Brisbane is about $5,404 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.