I thought I would provide you with a list showing the cost of everyday things around Chiang Mai. The list is a bit random, but I wanted to cover as much as I could for you. If there is anything you are curious about, and it isn’t covered below, ask now. I will do my best to figure out the price for you.
The cost of everyday things in Chiang Mai
The exchange I am using from Thai Baht to US $ is roughly 30 Baht to $1.
Food!
All compared to a 16 oz bottle of water.
There are a few larger grocery stores and many small Tesco Lotus Express and 7-11 type stores. The prices don’t vary much, but obviously the bigger the store, the bigger the selection. We do most of our daily shopping at the small Tesco Lotus Express (similar to 7-11).
Once a week or so, we will walk a bit further to Rimping or Tops for our meats and a few “American” items (Peanut butter, Salsa etc).
Grocery stores – Tesco, Rimping, Big C, Tops (prices may vary slightly)
Nutella 750 grams is 309 Baht ($10)
Bread – loaf of sliced wheat or white bread 37 Baht ($1.05)
6 x 1.5 litres or a 5 litre bottle 45-69 Baht ($1.5-$2.10)
Bottle refill machines / stations can be found around town, often outside of 7-11 or Tesco Lotus Express. The price to refill is anywhere from .5 – 1.5 Baht ($ to small to count)
Cereal –
Small individual box (30g) 10-15 Baht ($.30 – $.50)
Medium box (160-180g) local brands 80 Baht ($2.70)
Medium box (160-180g) of imported (shredded wheat, cookie crisp etc) 200-300 Baht ($6 – $10)
American candy (limited) is about 25-30 ($.45-$1) Hershey, Snickers, M&Ms.
Coke/Pepsi 1.25 or 1.5 litres range from 23-30 Baht ($.45-$1). 16 oz bottle is about 15 Baht ($.50)
Canned Campbell’s Soup is about 52 Baht $1.30. (Chicken Noodle, Tomato, Minestrone, Vegetable, Cream of Mushroom)
Markets –
Thai style baggy pants 120-220 Baht ($4-$7)
6 Bananas 30 Baht ($1)
1 Rotisserie chicken 130 Baht ($4)
There are loads of items to choose from and the prices are similar across the various markets. (Sunday Market, Saturday Market, Night Bazaar, etc)
Eating out –
Street food –
Most items on the street carts range from 30-60 Baht for an entree ($1-$2).
Freshly sliced fruit is about 15-20 Baht ($.50-$.70)
Smoothie or Fruit Shake 35-60 Baht ($1-$2)
Sushi 5 Baht per piece or 6 for 30 Baht ($1)
Restaurants – This can vary and cover all ranges.
There are a few local Thai restaurants that are the same price as street food.
Most are slightly more expensive at ($2-$3).
Of course if you are choosing western food or mall food, it will be far more expensive (western prices of $4 – $15 per person)
Coffee from a cafe will run from 50-90 Baht ($1.50-$3), of course there is Starbucks and that will set you back a little more.
Household Items and Toiletries
Toothpaste 26-89 Baht $1-$3
Dental Floss 60-89 Baht $2-$3
Shampoo – price varies by brand and size. There are some familiar US brands like Head and Shoulders and other local brands. I would say they are all comparable to the prices paid in the US.
Feminine products (tampons/pads) these items come in small quantities (8-12 pieces) and packages and run about 30-60 Baht ($1-$2)
Red Songthaew is 20 Baht ($.60) per person within the city. This is sometimes questioned when getting slightly out of the old city or crossing from one side to the other. Living in Nimman (just outside the NW corner of the city, we are often quoted a slightly higher price to get to the opposite corner SE of town, like Night Bazaar). Maybe 30 Baht ($1) per person. We do our best to provide the destination in Thai and then they are often more accommodating.
Tuk Tuk’s are often 80 – 100 Baht ($2.60 – $3.30) for the ride (2-3 people) and they don’t seem to be as worried about the distance within the city.
Haircut –
This really varies and we have heard horror stories of just a razor being used to cut the hair. Prices starting around 150 Baht ($3). We also heard of a great place off of Nimman Soi 13, not to far from us. New York, New York. This gets good reviews by the expats as “the only safe option”. 450 Baht ($14 USD), for wash, cut, head massage, and blow dry.
Off of Nimman Soi 13
Monthly costs in Chiang Mai
We share with you our monthly costs in Chiang Mai for rent, utilities, internet, water, transport, SIM card/ phone use. We can only share our expenses, but do remember we are a family of 4 and selected a 3 bedroom apartment in a popular area of town. I did freak out a bit about the cost of Electricitytoo.
Occasional costs in Chiang Mai
These prices are meant as a guide. They may vary slightly, depending on where you go.
Optometrist – free exam glasses and contacts vary in price.
We purchased one pair of glasses for 8000 Baht $249
frames were 50% of $100
lenses were transition with anti scratch and thin on sale 50% off of $400
Contact Lenses – from what I can gather, it is 190 Baht ($6.50) for a one month supply of the contacts that you take out and clean each day. It is 520 Baht ($16) for a 3 month supply of those.
If I understood them correctly, a 2 week supply of disposable (everyday) contacts were 500 Baht ($16) .
Dentist (prices we or friends have experienced, different locations may vary)
Price of Travel shares prices of attractions, transport and more.
If you don’t see something on this list, just let us know and we will see if we can find the price for you. If you want to add to the list, please do so in the comment below.
What to do in Chiang Mai!
We also have a very all inclusive list of Things to do in Chiang Mai with kids or without. This also includes our expenses living in Chiang Mai, where to eat and places to stay in Chiang Mai.
6 thoughts on “Cost Of Living In Chiang Mai – Family Style!”
Heidi, thanks for doing all the work again. We were just talking about the cost of banana. lol I guess we wont be buying nutella when we get there next week. I’ll warn the kids now. Glad we like Thai food. I can’t wait to hear where and what you are doing next. Chances are we may be right behind you again.
You are the best Roxanne. So are you my puppet master? The one pushing by buttons and pulling my strings to come up with blog posts. 🙂 Glad it is of help to you. We went ahead and splurged on Nutella, often. Shhh, don’t tell the dentist. Take care and have a blast in CM next month. We will be waving to you from Laos or Vietnam. Should we leave a bread crumb or nutella trail for you? take care.
The lesson in this post? Eat out yummy Thai every meal and forget about western food. I think I can do that without a problem 😉 I am a bit surprised by how much some of that stuff is though.
You got it! Stick to Thai and you are golden. We can for a few weeks and then can’t keep walking past that American peanut butter. Ha! Pick your battles. 🙂
Great list Heidi. We spent a couple of months in Chiang Mai recently and loved almost every minute. The price of living is just mind-bogglingly cheap when comparing it to our home town of Melbourne. I can’t wait to get back to be honest. Where else can you get a world class Thai meal for $1-$2!!!
Thanks Chris! It is just great. I am very sad to leave, but also excited to see new things. It is great to eat out Thai food and have it so cheap and American food is American prices. We will have our monthly spend coming out soon.
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Heidi, thanks for doing all the work again. We were just talking about the cost of banana. lol I guess we wont be buying nutella when we get there next week. I’ll warn the kids now. Glad we like Thai food. I can’t wait to hear where and what you are doing next. Chances are we may be right behind you again.
You are the best Roxanne. So are you my puppet master? The one pushing by buttons and pulling my strings to come up with blog posts. 🙂 Glad it is of help to you. We went ahead and splurged on Nutella, often. Shhh, don’t tell the dentist. Take care and have a blast in CM next month. We will be waving to you from Laos or Vietnam. Should we leave a bread crumb or nutella trail for you? take care.
The lesson in this post? Eat out yummy Thai every meal and forget about western food. I think I can do that without a problem 😉 I am a bit surprised by how much some of that stuff is though.
You got it! Stick to Thai and you are golden. We can for a few weeks and then can’t keep walking past that American peanut butter. Ha! Pick your battles. 🙂
Great list Heidi. We spent a couple of months in Chiang Mai recently and loved almost every minute. The price of living is just mind-bogglingly cheap when comparing it to our home town of Melbourne. I can’t wait to get back to be honest. Where else can you get a world class Thai meal for $1-$2!!!
Thanks Chris! It is just great. I am very sad to leave, but also excited to see new things. It is great to eat out Thai food and have it so cheap and American food is American prices. We will have our monthly spend coming out soon.