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Compare cities › Chiang Mai vs Madrid
Chiang Mai vs Madrid cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇪🇸 MadridChiang Mai is 375% cheaper than Madrid
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $4,794 in Madrid — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $252
Per month
$994 vs $4,794
Local meal
฿ 55 vs € 12
$1.67 vs $14
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs € 10
$1.58 vs $11.6
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 85% cheaper
Cafés & drinksChiang Mai 26% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 78% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 79% cheaper
FunChiang Mai 70% cheaper
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Local meal (88%↓), Street food (88%↓), Taxi (86%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Madrid | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | € 12$14 | Chiang Mai −88% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | € 5.4$6.28 | Chiang Mai −88% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | € 26$30.2 | Chiang Mai −70% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | € 2$2.33 | Chiang Mai −15% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | € 3$3.49 | Chiang Mai −31% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | € 7.8$9.07 | Chiang Mai −30% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | € 1.5$1.74 | Chiang Mai −83% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | € 3.8$4.42 | Chiang Mai −83% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | € 10$11.6 | Chiang Mai −86% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | € 7$8.14 | Chiang Mai −78% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | € 1.5$1.74 | Chiang Mai −48% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | € 30$34.9 | Chiang Mai −79% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | € 120$140 | Chiang Mai −78% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | € 1,200$1,395 | Chiang Mai −80% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | € 3$3.49 | Chiang Mai −62% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | € 13$15.1 | Chiang Mai −52% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | € 16$18.6 | Chiang Mai −82% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | € 47$54.7 | Chiang Mai −83% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | € 43$50 | Chiang Mai −46% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | € 13$15.1 | Chiang Mai −52% |
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 Madrid?
Chiang Mai is 375% cheaper than Madrid. Daily budget $53.8 vs $252; a month $994 vs $4,794.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Madrid?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Madrid about $4,794 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.