Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Catacamas Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Catacamas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $582 in Catacamas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $953 in Catacamas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,324 in Catacamas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Catacamas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Catacamas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Catacamas 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$5.67 HNL 151

-65.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$37.98 HNL 1,012

-50.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$7.89 HNL 210

-0.89%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.26 HNL 60.3

-13.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.00 HNL 26.72

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.12 HNL 29.78

-68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.16 HNL 31.03

83.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.65 HNL 70.7

40.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.45 HNL 38.73

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.17 HNL 57.7

-24.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.23 HNL 32.84

-7.32%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.12 HNL 56.3

-8.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.29 HNL 168

157.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.68 HNL 97.9

-15.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.14 HNL 217

33.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.97 HNL 79.1

-7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.50 HNL 39.94

-19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.52 HNL 40.37

6.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.58 HNL 41.98

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.64 HNL 43.81

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.37 HNL 36.46

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.88 HNL 23.36

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.63 HNL 43.49

-67.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.53 HNL 67.4

85.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.29 HNL 34.30

39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.87 HNL 49.72

72.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$4.20 HNL 112

-66.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.06 HNL 28.33

19.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$19.0K HNL 506.3K

11.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$18.9K HNL 503.2K

17.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,258

$81.4 HNL 2,167

-15.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$9.05 HNL 241

55.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$40.38 HNL 1,075

-55.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.63 HNL 150

5.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,775

$246 HNL 6,566

21.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$46.35 HNL 1,235

18.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$36.40 HNL 970

-26.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$107 HNL 2,848

-20.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$102 HNL 2,710

-30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Catacamas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Catacamas. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $190 in Catacamas – so Catacamas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Catacamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $873 in Catacamas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Catacamas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $582 in Catacamas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Catacamas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Catacamas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.