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Chiang Mai vs Krabi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 KrabiChiang Mai is 61% cheaper than Krabi
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,640 in Krabi — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $84.7
Per month
$994 vs $1,640
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ฿ 99
$1.67 vs $3
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ฿ 130
$1.58 vs $3.94
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 40% cheaper
Cafés & drinksChiang Mai 20% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 39% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 32% cheaper
FunChiang Mai 16% cheaper
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (60%↓), Local meal (44%↓), Street food (44%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Krabi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ฿ 99$3 | Chiang Mai −44% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ฿ 45$1.36 | Chiang Mai −44% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 430$13 | Chiang Mai −30% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ฿ 82$2.48 | Chiang Mai −21% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 99$3 | Chiang Mai −19% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ฿ 260$7.88 | Chiang Mai −19% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ฿ 130$3.94 | Chiang Mai −60% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ฿ 76$2.3 | Chiang Mai −22% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 33$1 | Chiang Mai −9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 300$9.09 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ฿ 1,500$45.5 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ฿ 13,000$394 | Chiang Mai −31% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Chiang Mai −12% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 260$7.88 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ฿ 130$3.94 | Chiang Mai −15% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 380$11.5 | Chiang Mai −21% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ฿ 1,100$33.3 | Chiang Mai −19% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 260$7.88 | Chiang Mai −8% |
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, Chiang Mai or Krabi?
Chiang Mai is 61% cheaper than Krabi. Daily budget $53.8 vs $84.7; a month $994 vs $1,640.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Krabi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Krabi about $1,640 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.