Thailand cost per month
Rent, food and transport for a month in Chiang Mai, with real 2026 numbers.
Thailand is still one of the best places in the world for a long stay on a budget. Chiang Mai is the classic base: a studio, a scooter, great food and fast internet for well under $1,000 a month. Here is what a month costs, built from 2026 prices.
A month in Chiang Mai
| Monthly cost | Price |
|---|---|
| Studio rent, Santitham | from about ฿6,500 |
| Studio rent, Nimman or Old City | ฿8,000–15,000 |
| Fibre internet (if not included) | ฿500–900 |
| Water | ฿100–300 |
| Electricity | about ฿4–6 per unit, depends on AC use |
| Food, street food and some cafes | ฿6,000–10,500 |
| Scooter rental | ฿3,000–4,000 |
| Tourist SIM, 30 days | ฿1,199 |
| Visa extension (if staying past 30 days) | about ฿1,900 |
Rents from Superagent's 2026 Chiang Mai rent guide. Food is ฿200–350 a day for 30 days.
| Example month | Total |
|---|---|
| Lean month (Santitham studio, mostly street food) | ≈฿18,000–22,000 |
| Comfortable month (Nimman studio, cafes, scooter) | ≈฿28,000–35,000 |
That is roughly $537–$657 for a lean month and $836–$1,045 for a comfortable one, plus electricity and fun money.
Bangkok and the islands
Bangkok and the islands cost more for rent, and short monthly rentals on the islands vary a lot by season. Many long-stayers do the opposite of short-term tourists: they live in Chiang Mai in the cool season and move to the Gulf islands from roughly February to August.
Finding a monthly rental
- Book a week in a guesthouse first, then look at condos in person.
- Ask if utilities and internet are included and how electricity is billed.
- Monthly deals on booking sites are a good starting point and easy to cancel.
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Questions people ask
How much does it cost to live in Thailand for a month?
In Chiang Mai, roughly ฿18,000–22,000 for a lean month and ฿28,000–35,000 for a comfortable one, plus electricity and fun money.
How much is rent in Chiang Mai?
Studios cost from about ฿6,500 a month in Santitham and ฿8,000–15,000 in Nimman or the Old City in 2026.
Can I stay in Thailand for a month without a visa?
Since 15 September 2026, most visitors get 30 days visa-free. For longer you need a 30-day extension or a visa.
Is Chiang Mai good for digital nomads?
Yes. Cheap rents, fast fibre internet, many cafes and coworking spaces, and a large nomad community.