Chiang Mai
The long-stay capital of northern Thailand, where a month costs what a week does on the islands.
- Lean
- $28
- Comfort
- $150
Cheaper. Tracks Thailand as a whole.
Cheaper than the national figure of $79 a day.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
As of November 12, 2026, a mid-range day in Chiang Mai costs about $63 per person, excluding flights: about 20% less than the average for Thailand. For US-dollar travelers it is 5.8% cheaper than a year ago after inflation, in line with Thailand as a whole. The long-stay capital of northern Thailand, where a month costs what a week does on the islands.
What your money buys in Thailand
Exchange rates and inflation are national, so the city follows this line. The dashed line is the exchange rate alone; the solid line is after inflation.
Chiang Mai, in five questions
City costs are the national model scaled by a premium of −20% that we set by hand. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does a day in Chiang Mai cost?
- About $28 on a lean budget, $63 mid-range and $150 in comfort, per person per day as of November 12, 2026, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates: the national figure for Thailand, updated daily, scaled by a city premium.
- Is Chiang Mai expensive compared with the rest of Thailand?
- Chiang Mai costs about 20% less than the national average for Thailand, which is $79 a day mid-range. The long-stay capital of northern Thailand, where a month costs what a week does on the islands.
- Is Chiang Mai cheaper to visit than last year?
- The exchange rate moved +4.1% for US-dollar holders over twelve months while prices in Thailand rose +1.8%, a real change of +5.8%. City prices broadly follow the country.
- When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai for lower prices?
- For Thailand the shoulder months, with workable weather and lower prices, are March, June, October. Peak season is November, December, January, February.
- Is Chiang Mai safe?
- The US State Department rates Thailand at Level 1: Normal precautions. Country-wide levels can hide large differences between cities and regions, so read the full advisory.