The cost of living in Chiang Rai is just one of the many reasons why you may want to make this northern Thai city your new home. Surrounded by lush countryside and towering mountains, the culture is rich, the people are amazing, and it’s a great pace to be.
Our Thailand coordinator, Josh, has lived in Chiang Rai since May 2025. We’ve used some of his input alongside Numbeo, a fantastic website that lays out the cost of living in cities across the world.
This blog is the first in a series where we explore how much it actually costs to live in the places where our teaching placements are. Our goal is to show you how affordable the rest of the world can be, because £4 Americanos and £1,000 a month on rent isn’t normal.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the list!
Food and Drinks
- Thai meal at local restaurant – £1.20
- Meal for two at mid-range restaurant (no drinks) – £11.80
- Big bottle of Thai beer at bar – £1.90
- Iced coffee – £1.20
- Bottle of water – 20p
- 10 eggs (market) – £1.20
- 1kg oranges (market) – £1.20
Transport
- Monthly bike rental – £58.90
- Full tank of petrol (bike) – £2.80
Sports and Leisure
- Monthly gym membership – £23.50
- Muay Thai training (12 sessions) – £70.60
- Cinema ticket – £5.70
- 1-hour massage – £5.90
- Haircut (men) – £2.35
- Haircut (women) – £7.10
Rent and Bills
- Monthly rent (1-bedroom apartment) – £164.80
- Monthly energy bill (cold season) – £14.10
- Monthly energy bill (hot season) – £37.70
- Monthly water bill – £4.70
- Monthly Wi-Fi – £14.10
- Monthly mobile data – £9.40
Of course, we can’t guarantee that these prices are completely accurate. Exchange rates fluctuate and there’s a wide range of options when buying everything from fruit to phone contracts. But our estimates are as close to reality as possible.
As a teacher in Chiang Rai, you would earn more than £815 a month. That means you’d be left with over £500 after rent and bills, even in the hot season. That leaves you plenty of room to live a great quality of life, travel, and potentially save.
You’ll be more than comfortable, but maybe not rich. Yet teaching in Thailand isn’t all about the money. It’s about the experience, the connections, and the memories. It gives you time to breathe and plan what’s next. Or you might just fall in love and stay forever.
Whatever you choose, Impact Teaching is here to help. And if you’re someone who’s more drawn to a higher salary and larger workload, Beijing could be a good option for you. If so, keep an eye out for our next blog on the cost of living in China’s mega capital!
