We tracked every transaction for a month in Chiang Mai with two kids. Here's exactly what we spent across accommodation, food, transport, and activities - including the unexpected costs that catch most families out.

Quick summary: total spend

Our total for the month came to roughly £2,180 for a family of four, including a 28-day apartment rental, daily meals out, school fees for two children, and weekend activities. That's about £540 a week, or £75 per person per day.

This is meaningful real-world data because we weren't trying to optimise either way - we weren't budget-maxing, and we weren't living large.

Accommodation: £680 / month

We rented a two-bedroom apartment in the Nimman district of Chiang Mai - central, walkable, with reliable Wi-Fi and a small pool. Booked directly with the landlord through Wise, which saved us roughly 15% compared to the Booking.com listing for the same property.

Food: £620 / month

A mix of local Thai restaurants (£3–6 per meal for the family) and the occasional Western meal (£15–25). Cooking at home for breakfast saved us at least £150 over the month.

Transport, activities, and the unexpected

Songthaew (shared red truck) trips around the city: £40. Day trip to Doi Suthep: £18. Activities for the kids (climbing wall, art classes, swimming): £180. Visa run to the border: £85.

The unexpected line came from healthcare - a routine doctor's visit when one of our children had an ear infection cost about £35 at a private clinic, fully paid out of pocket. Our travel insurance excess would have been higher than the bill itself.

What we'd budget for next time

Realistically, £2,000–2,400 for a month is achievable for a family of four in Chiang Mai if you book accommodation directly, eat mostly local food, and don't over-schedule activities. Bangkok and the islands would push that 25–40% higher.

Booking directly means paying the owner by international transfer, which is what we use Wise for. If you have not done one before, we cover what you need and what it costs in how to pay an overseas landlord from a UK account.