Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kamez

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,041 in Kamez, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Kamez despite lower rent and utilities.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Kamez
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Kamez Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Kamez

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,041

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kamez

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kamez actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,041 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Kamez $1,041

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,637 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Kamez $1,637

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,233 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Kamez $2,233

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Kamez, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kamez are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kamez 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$10.14 ALL 819

-77.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$38.15 ALL 3,081

-50.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$7.39 ALL 597

-24.90%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$1.90 ALL 153

-12.11%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.85 ALL 149

-65.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.65 ALL 52.4

-52.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.48 ALL 201

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.45 ALL 279

6.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.92 ALL 155

1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.92 ALL 74.4

56.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$2.06 ALL 166

-35.44%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.64 ALL 214

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$10.38 ALL 838

58.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$8.76 ALL 707

-68.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$14.32 ALL 1,156

-34.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$1.98 ALL 160

18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$2.30 ALL 186

-57.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.63 ALL 131

-1.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$1.58 ALL 128

-5.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.03 ALL 82.8

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.25 ALL 101

-12.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.20 ALL 96.7

-40.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.75 ALL 60.4

-34.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.36 ALL 352

-5.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$7.93 ALL 640

120.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.64 ALL 132

-1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.82 ALL 147

52.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.51 ALL 41.42

70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$20.72 ALL 1,673

161.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$3.77 ALL 305

-69.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$3.73 ALL 302

-85.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$18.87 ALL 1,524

-87.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$2.21 ALL 178

-34.39%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$33.3K ALL 2.7M

-36.82%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$24.3K ALL 2.0M

11.03%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$61.4 ALL 4,956

1.34%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$16.75 ALL 1,353

-27.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$17.26 ALL 1,394

16.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$50.9 ALL 4,109

-26.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$8.80 ALL 711

-26.25%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$101 ALL 8,120

632.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$8,192 ALL 661.7K

80.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$48.47 ALL 3,915

10.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$48.51 ALL 3,918

-49.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$97.3 ALL 7,859

-5.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$111 ALL 8,934

-34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$497 ALL 40.1K

-2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$289 ALL 23.4K

6.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$660 ALL 53.3K

52.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$497 ALL 40.1K

27.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,948 ALL 157.3K

21.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,147 ALL 92.6K

38.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kamez: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Kamez

$289 27.8% 6.4% $20

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Kamez

$250 24% 6.8% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Kamez

$137 13.2% 26.3% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kamez

$95 9.2% 1% $0.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Kamez

$155 14.9% 100% $78

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kamez

$45 4.3% 26.3% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kamez

$68 6.6% 36.2% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $497 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 in Chiang Mai versus $38 in Kamez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Kamez

🕒 Local time

21:09 9:09 PM

15:09 3:09 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

104,190

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ALL = 1.24 USD

100 ALL = 1.11 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.77 ALL (100 ALL = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.89 ALL (100 ALL = 1.11 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kamez 7,760 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kamez

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 11% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,561 in Kamez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $497 in Kamez. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $101 in Kamez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Kamez, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,041 in Kamez. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,041 in Kamez. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.