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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $982 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,453 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,924 in Kakanj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Kakanj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kakanj 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$6.95 BAM 11.67

-69.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$38.93 BAM 65.4

-49.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.09 BAM 11.90

-18.34%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.70 BAM 2.86

7.65%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$1.96 BAM 3.29

-60.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$1.29 BAM 2.17

-75.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.39 BAM 4.01

-2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.42 BAM 4.07

52.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.24 BAM 2.08

63.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.13 BAM 1.90

41.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$2.13 BAM 3.58

-33.33%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$3.00 BAM 5.04

-27.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$9.75 BAM 16.37

63.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$7.60 BAM 12.77

-59.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$13.41 BAM 22.52

-26.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.16 BAM 1.94

126.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$1.41 BAM 2.36

15.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.75 BAM 2.95

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.01 BAM 1.70

22.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.06 BAM 1.78

6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$1.01 BAM 1.69

-26.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.76 BAM 1.28

-34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.94 BAM 6.62

8.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$7.92 BAM 13.30

126.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$0.91 BAM 1.54

86.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$1.35 BAM 2.27

114.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$1.31 BAM 2.19

-28.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$1.79 BAM 3.01

-31.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.57 BAM 0.96

-7.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$10.83 BAM 18.19

-77.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.53 BAM 2.57

-5.88%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$32.0K BAM 53.8K

-33.79%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

21.90%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$123 BAM 206

-47.06%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$16.85 BAM 28.30

-20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$27.72 BAM 46.56

-24.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$34.49 BAM 57.9

17.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$5.57 BAM 9.36

20.47%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$159 BAM 266

396.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$3,988 BAM 6,698

279.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$60.9 BAM 102

-7.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$33.53 BAM 56.3

-25.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$90.4 BAM 152

2.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$103 BAM 174

-27.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$349 BAM 586

38.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$261 BAM 438

10.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$533 BAM 895

70.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$381 BAM 641

39.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

$2,576 BAM 4,327

-23.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

$1,846 BAM 3,100

-21.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.3

29.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $349 in Kakanj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Kakanj. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Kakanj – so Kakanj 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 Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kakanj costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,473 in Kakanj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Kakanj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Kakanj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Kakanj at $982. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kakanj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $982 in Kakanj. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kakanj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.