Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Horishni Plavni Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Horishni Plavni

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $801 in Horishni Plavni, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,196 in Horishni Plavni, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,592 in Horishni Plavni, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Horishni Plavni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Horishni Plavni are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Horishni Plavni 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿68.8

$8.78 ₴393

-76.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿651

$26.97 ₴1,206

-26.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$5.75 ₴257

0.70%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.66 ₴29.64

177.27%

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

$0.78 ฿25.43

$0.43 ₴19.21

81.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

$0.26 ₴11.51

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.7

$0.65 ₴28.93

260.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿121

$1.38 ₴61.7

168.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.6

$1.12 ₴50.0

81.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.4

$0.65 ₴29.24

146.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.43

$1.43 ₴64.0

-0.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.4

$2.03 ₴90.7

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿522

$10.06 ₴450

58.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$5.29 ₴237

-41.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$8.61 ₴385

14.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.2

$0.76 ₴33.78

246.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.94

$1.55 ₴69.3

-29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$1.85 ₴82.8

-11.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$2.74 ₴123

-44.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.84

$0.66 ₴29.39

87.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.11

$0.45 ₴20.07

151.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.21

$1.46 ₴65.3

-49.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.37

$0.62 ₴27.71

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿140

$3.43 ₴154

24.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿590

$5.69 ₴255

215.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.97 ₴43.28

75.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.0

$1.43 ₴64.0

102.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.91

$0.35 ₴15.68

168.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,814

$11.11 ₴497

397.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.48

$2.20 ₴98.6

-44.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$0.44 ₴19.58

20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.8

$4.35 ₴195

-44.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.22

$1.39 ₴62.1

3.60%

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

$21.2K ฿695.3K

$29.6K ₴1.3M

-28.44%

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

$27.3K ฿895.9K

$26.4K ₴1.2M

3.49%

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

$64.9 ฿2,130

$95.4 ₴4,268

-31.95%

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

$13.35 ฿438

$5.19 ₴232

157.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿684

$4.41 ₴197

372.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,326

$26.30 ₴1,176

53.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$12.41 ₴555

-68.17%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿220

$3.42 ₴153

96.20%

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

$787 ฿25.8K

$403 ₴18.0K

95.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.2K

$4,336 ₴193.9K

248.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,845

$72.6 ₴3,249

-22.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿819

$40.57 ₴1,815

-38.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,042

$94.8 ₴4,241

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,465

$118 ₴5,297

-36.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$297 ₴13.3K

62.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,425

$203 ₴9,059

41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.8K

$424 ₴18.9K

114.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$247 ₴11.0K

115.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.0K

$1,059 ₴47.4K

86.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.6K

$861 ₴38.5K

68.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$377 ₴16.9K

60.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.25

-69.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Horishni Plavni: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $297 in Horishni Plavni. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 60% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Horishni Plavni. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $183 in Horishni Plavni – so Horishni Plavni 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 Horishni Plavni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Horishni Plavni, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,202 in Horishni Plavni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Horishni Plavni, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $403 in Horishni Plavni. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Horishni Plavni, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Horishni Plavni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Horishni Plavni costs $801 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Horishni Plavni. 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.