HOW MUCH I SPENT IN ONE MONTH IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
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Before my six-month trip to Asia I asked online to get a better idea of the budget needed for staying one month in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The answers I got were all over the place (and mostly much higher than MY reality). So in case you are wondering the same, here is my breakdown.
Some general info
Obviously, everyone will have different needs/experiences – my budget is likely not your budget. Still, I hope this post will help you figure out how much YOU need to budget.
Below I will give more details about my style of travelling and eating to help you compare your estimated expenses with mine. However, if you just want the numbers you can jump down to my cost totals and to a list of cost for typical items.
Accomodation in Chiang Mai
Accomodation was by far my biggest expense.
For accomodation I went for safe, clean, convenient in a good location but fairly basic. I booked a four week stay via AirBnB for a total of 564 Euro.
This gave me a very convenient location right near the Night Bazaar. Drawbacks were that it was fairly noisy/loud with daily music in the evening/night and quite a bit of traffic noise around the clock.
I had my own place, access to fridge/microwave/hot water cooker, a dedicated desk and good Wifi as well as airconditioning. The place was of a good size though the bathroom was small and did not drain well.
Overall, I was happy with my choice and loved the location. I would rate this as pleasant/adequate but not luxurious.
You could likely save money by avoiding AirBnB and finding your own place, especially if you are staying several months. However, if you plan on visiting during the more popular months (i.e. November to January) it might be best to figure something out ahead of time as I heard of some people having a hard time finding something.
If you plan on staying at inexpensive hostels you can also likely save money here compared to my expenses.
Food in Chiang Mai
With a total of for four weeks I did not spend a lot on food during my time in Chiang Mai and there is a good chance you will need a bit more. This isnt due to any great savings ability on my side, but just because I am not a big eater.
My typical breakfast – and no, I am not a big eater
I generally had breakfast in my room. This consisted of 2 Wheatabix biscuits with a bit of jelly on top (I did not know they made jelly in tubes!) and a cup of coffee. I bought a large pack of Nescafe that lasted me the entire stay.
Snacks in the room
I also spent quite a bit on drinks and snacks. This was mainly soda (16 Baht per can), water, various snacks (peanuts, dried mango, broad beans, etc.). I did not buy/drink any alcohol during my time in Chiang Mai.
Spicy Popcorn Chicken Snack for 30 baht at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market
For lunch and dinner I mostly ate out. I had most of my meals either at the Pantrip food court, various night markets, or the very touristy (and therefore a bit more expensive) Phaploen Night Market.
One of many tempting choices at Phaploen Night Market
As far as prices go, dishes at the night bazaar were generally at least 100 Baht. At food courts/local markets I paid closer to 50 to 90 Baht per meal. I did generally opt for the cheaper versions (e.g. chicken instead of beef) and portions were not huge. They were fine for me but if you are a heartier eater you might want to order two meals (or an extra dessert etc.).
A typical meal from a food court
All in all, I spent USD 188 in total for food (and a couple of necessities) during my stay and think this is on the low side. You could probably spend even less if you avoid any splurges and cut down on soda/snacks. Still, I think the average visitor would spend at least as much as me and possibly 30% to 50% more.
Activities and Entertainment
My cost for activities and entertainment was also on the lower side. I generally prefer do-it-yourself excursions/activities which are cheaper but actually did do two tours via Get-your-Guide.
By far my biggest expense as far as activities and entertainment was concerned was 3,500 Baht (about 100 Euro) for a one month health club membership at the Shangri-La. This was a hefty expense but definitely worth it as I visited almost every day and spent quite a bit of time at the pool.
The pool at Chiang Mai’s Shangri-la hotel gave my stay a touch of luxury
The membership included full use of fitness center and pool as well as towels, locker room, steam room, jacuzzi, and sauna. I loved spending time at the Shangri-La pool and this membership added a touch of posh luxury to my otherwise fairly spartan accomodation.
Ping River Cruise
The second big expense were organized excursions. While I visited local temples etc. on my own, going further afield is quite a hassle if you don’t want to drive a car or scooter. If you are part of a larger group (or at least a couple) renting a driver for a day might be a good alternative and give you more freedom.
My evening tour of Doi Suthep was one of the highlights of my stay in Chiang Mai
But for a solo traveler, organized tours were easiest and probably most cost effective. I booked two excursions during my trip: the Ping River Cruise (you can read all about it here) for USD 20.60 and a tour of Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat (review to come) for USD 24.33.
One of the houses at the Lanna Traditional House Museum
I also spent about 300 baht for touring some of the temples in town and the Lanna Traditional House Museum.
Miscellaneous
Transportation
I spent less than expected on transportation – probably because it took me a while to figure out how to use Grab. So during the first half of my stay I pretty much walked everywhere. This was doable in January as the center of Chiang Mai is fairly compact. However, if you are there when it is hotter you would probably figure out transportation a lot faster (and spend more).
I was too chicken to ever use one of these cool red mini-buses but they are inexpensive
In total I spent 420 baht for three rides – a very minor expense.
Taxi Ride from Airport to Accomodation (flat fee) 150
Grab from Accomodation to Airport 170
Grab Maya Mall to Night Bazaar 100
Communication
I had great internet in my accomodation and at the pool so only needed to use mobile data for Google Maps, Grab, and an occasional quick search/check of the internet.
I decided on getting an esim card before arriving in Thailand so I wouldn’t have to worry about buying and installing a card at the airport. After some research I ended up using Saily as an esim provider as a lot of the other well-known providers offered unlimited data which I did not need (and I was to chicken to go with an unknown offer). My plan was quite inexpensive at USD 5.99 for four weeks (3 GB) which was way more than I needed.
However, if you have a different usage of mobile data (or less reliable internet), your best bet is probably a local sim card with unlimited data which you can get either at the airport or many places (including 7-Elevens) in town.
Laundry
My accomodation did not include laundry facilities so I went to a nearby washing and drying service. These small shops are all over the place (I think there were 5 within a block of my AirBnB). I just chose a nearby place with good reviews on Google Maps and was happy with the service.
Most places I saw charge 40-60 baht per kg (with a surcharge for same day service and/or delivery). I went twice for regular service (without delivery) and paid a total of 275 baht during the month I was in town.
bank Fees
For this post, I will ignore any fees/costs associated with currency exchange as these are too hard to quantify.
However, I spent 220 baht for withdrawing money from the ATM. I believe this fee is pretty much the same everywhere and independent of the amount you withdraw (there may be additional fees depending on bank etc.). So it is best to take out larger amounts just once or twice rather than getting just a little cash every couple of days!
Souvenirs
Given that my budget is a bit tight and suitcase space limited, I hardly bought anything in Chiang Mai. The only souvenir I did buy were two pairs of elephant pants at 100 baht each for a total of 200 baht.
Most will probably spend more for souvenirs but you know your shopping habits best so can probably give a good estimate.
Insurance
Probably the MOST IMPORTANT expense on any international trip is decent health insurance. You are always just a small accident or pesky virus away from incurring a huge bill!
Normally, I use an inexpensive annual policy (under $20) for travelling but that only covers trips up to four or six weeks. So for my six months in Asia I signed up for an extended travel insurance policy. I used a German provider as it was the cheapest I could find and paid EUR 55 per month.
However, I believe this can only be bought if your home address is in Germany. For international travellers I have heard World Nomads recommended which many digital nomads and long-term travellers seem to use.
Total Cost for One Month in Chiang Mai
So how much did I spend in total? Below I am adding up all the components mentioned above – I have converted them to USD (and rounded to full dollars) to make it easier to read. Obviously, exchange rates fluctuate etc. but it should give you a general idea of what to expect for a low-key but comfortable life-style.
| Total Expenses – 4 weeks | Chiang Mai | |
| Accomodation | 667 | |
| Food | 188 | |
| Activities and Entertainment | ||
| Pool Membership | 110 | |
| Tours | 45 | |
| Entry Fees | 10 | |
| Total for Activities and Entertainment | 165 | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Transportation (without flight to Chiang Mai) | 14 | |
| Communication | 6 | |
| Laundry | 9 | |
| Bank Fees | 7 | |
| Souvenirs | 7 | |
| Total Miscellaneous | 43 | |
| Insurance | 65 | |
| TOTAL EXPENSE | 1,128 |
How typical are my Expenses?
Huh, you may think, now I know how much Kitty spent but how typical is this? Is USD 1,200 (let’s round up a little) really enough? There are a couple of things to consider:
- My accomodation cost was on the low-average side. The apartment was comfy but not luxurious and it was located in a very central but also noisy area.
- However, accomodation cost is the easiest to predict as you can check on rental or hotel prices easily before your trip.
- I am not a big eater and did watch my food expenses so most will probably spend a bit more.
- I think my entertainment expenses were average as long as you don’t go out at night/party/drink.
- Expenses for miscellaneous were on the low side (e.g. I barely did any shopping).
- Insurance will vary quite a bit but as with accomodation you can get a quote before your trip so won’t be surprised later on.
I think USD1,200 is a decent amount for four weeks living a comfortable though not luxurious life. Most will probably spend a bit more but USD 1,600 should cover normal living for most (without big shopping expeditions, top of the line apartment or constant partying).
Some Current Prices
To help you out a bit when you work on your personal budget, I have compiled a short table with average prices for common purchases/expenses (as of January 2026):
| Item | Typical Cost in Baht |
| Single Can of Coca-Cola | 16 |
| Meal at Food Court | 50-100 |
| Meal at Night Bazaar Night Market | 100-200 |
| Snacks at Night Market | 10-50 |
| Small bottle of water | 7 |
| Small bag of snacks | 10-20 |
| Inexpensive toilet paper pack | 20 |
| 1 kg of laundry (washing and drying service) | 40-60 |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee | 220 |
| 1 Pair of Elephant Pants | 100 |
| Temple Entrance Fee | 30-50 |
| Taxi from Airport to Old Town | 150 |
| Grab around Town | 100 (e.g. Maya Mall to Night Bazaar) |
Chiang Mai has plenty of places with inexpensive meals
Conclusion
Chiang Mai makes a great destination for an extended stay with lots to do, pleasant surroundings, and a great standard of living at a very affordable price. While you could spend quite a bit more than I did, it is also possible to live comfortably for under USD 1,200 per month!
