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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,103 in Kamez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,653 in Kamez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,204 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Kamez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kamez are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kamez 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$9.53 ALL 780

-79.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$36.98 ALL 3,025

-49.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.01 ALL 573

11.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.87 ALL 153

4.28%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.65 ALL 135

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.85 ALL 69.7

-58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.40 ALL 196

-11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.29 ALL 269

13.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.96 ALL 161

-12.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.91 ALL 74.3

79.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.93 ALL 158

-40.93%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.91 ALL 238

-33.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.13 ALL 829

60.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.91 ALL 647

-60.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.02 ALL 1,065

-16.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.73 ALL 141

58.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.42 ALL 198

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.75 ALL 143

-7.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.35 ALL 110

17.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.05 ALL 86.1

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.23 ALL 100

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.14 ALL 93.2

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.78 ALL 63.9

-32.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.09 ALL 335

14.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.89 ALL 809

88.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.65 ALL 135

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.81 ALL 148

78.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.49 ALL 40.01

83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$19.07 ALL 1,560

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.42 ALL 280

-58.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.06 ALL 251

-57.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.46 ALL 1,429

-55.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.08 ALL 170

-38.94%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.2K ALL 2.9M

-39.49%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.5K ALL 2.1M

-12.95%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$67.8 ALL 5,549

1.83%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.34 ALL 1,419

-18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$15.79 ALL 1,292

14.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$55.1 ALL 4,511

-25.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.66 ALL 2,100

-72.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.01 ALL 655

-26.09%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$160 ALL 13.1K

86.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,566 ALL 455.4K

168.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$46.26 ALL 3,785

18.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$49.42 ALL 4,043

-45.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$95.1 ALL 7,781

-10.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$127 ALL 10.4K

-44.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$456 ALL 37.3K

-6.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$337 ALL 27.6K

-29.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$603 ALL 49.3K

32.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$429 ALL 35.1K

20.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,069 ALL 169.2K

-4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,158 ALL 94.8K

27.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kamez: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $456 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Kamez. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $245 in Kamez – so Kamez 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 Kamez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kamez costs about 27% 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 $1,654 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 $299 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Kamez – 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 $866, 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 $866 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.