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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,103 in Kamez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,653 in Kamez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,203 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Kamez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kamez are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kamez 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$9.48 ALL 773

-79.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$36.82 ALL 3,003

-50.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.19 ALL 587

4.03%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.90 ALL 155

6.32%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.58 ALL 129

-46.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.81 ALL 65.8

-55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.40 ALL 196

-10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.24 ALL 264

10.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.96 ALL 160

-15.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.92 ALL 75.2

70.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.96 ALL 160

-39.29%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.90 ALL 236

-33.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.95 ALL 812

62.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.97 ALL 650

-62.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.01 ALL 1,061

-15.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.73 ALL 141

56.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.43 ALL 198

-51.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.71 ALL 139

-1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.35 ALL 110

18.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.06 ALL 86.5

30.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.23 ALL 99.9

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.10 ALL 89.4

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.78 ALL 63.4

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.08 ALL 332

13.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.04 ALL 819

75.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.57 ALL 128

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.80 ALL 147

83.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.49 ALL 39.88

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$19.10 ALL 1,557

1.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.40 ALL 278

-60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$3.20 ALL 261

-58.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$17.52 ALL 1,428

-53.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.14 ALL 175

-42.99%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$34.1K ALL 2.8M

-37.38%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$25.4K ALL 2.1M

-11.19%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$67.1 ALL 5,469

5.38%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.18 ALL 1,401

-18.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$16.18 ALL 1,319

8.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$55.7 ALL 4,541

-24.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$24.91 ALL 2,032

-72.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$8.28 ALL 675

-28.50%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$160 ALL 13.0K

93.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$5,678 ALL 463.1K

162.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$47.30 ALL 3,858

17.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$51.0 ALL 4,157

-48.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$92.7 ALL 7,563

-10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$127 ALL 10.4K

-44.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$443 ALL 36.1K

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$339 ALL 27.6K

-29.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$611 ALL 49.8K

34.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$433 ALL 35.3K

18.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,673 ALL 136.4K

14.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,231 ALL 100.4K

19.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kamez: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $443 in Kamez. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Kamez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $245 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kamez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kamez costs about 28% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,655 in Kamez. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Kamez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Kamez, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Kamez at $1,103. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kamez it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,103 in Kamez. 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, Kamez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.