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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $920 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,439 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,959 in Kakanj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Kakanj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kakanj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.29 BAM 12.25

-73.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.74 BAM 60.1

-47.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.86 BAM 9.85

33.45%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.65 BAM 2.77

18.18%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-50.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.03 BAM 3.41

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.12 BAM 3.56

75.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.36 BAM 2.29

25.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.25 BAM 2.10

30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.77 BAM 2.97

-35.59%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.87 BAM 4.82

-32.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.93 BAM 13.33

104.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.68 BAM 12.91

-59.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.86 BAM 19.93

-8.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.43 BAM 2.41

92.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.62 BAM 2.73

-25.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.90 BAM 3.19

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-8.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.07 BAM 1.80

30.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.12 BAM 1.88

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.56 BAM 5.98

31.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.74 BAM 11.33

176.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.86 BAM 1.45

109.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.23 BAM 2.06

162.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.84 BAM 3.10

-51.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.26 BAM 59.2

-45.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.46 BAM 2.45

-3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.83 BAM 1.39

55.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.11 BAM 15.30

-13.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.52 BAM 2.56

-16.45%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

-19.67%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.3K BAM 44.3K

-15.68%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$158 BAM 265

-56.22%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.52 BAM 31.11

-23.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.85 BAM 40.06

-24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.56 BAM 49.66

38.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.72 BAM 18.00

-35.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.67 BAM 9.53

4.41%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$170 BAM 286

75.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,374 BAM 5,669

343.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$69.4 BAM 117

-21.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$35.24 BAM 59.2

-24.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$88.6 BAM 149

-4.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$117 BAM 197

-39.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$259 BAM 435

65.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$167 BAM 280

42.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$362 BAM 608

121.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$314 BAM 527

64.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,753 BAM 4,626

-28.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,066 BAM 3,471

-28.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

18.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $259 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Kakanj. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $215 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 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,379 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $170 in Kakanj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Kakanj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $920 in Kakanj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $920 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.