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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,106 in Kamez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,696 in Kamez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,287 in Kamez, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Kamez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kamez are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kamez 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$9.95 ALL 786

-78.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$40.04 ALL 3,162

-50.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.75 ALL 612

-25.29%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.07 ALL 163

-11.59%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.97 ALL 156

-60.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.70 ALL 55.1

-55.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.48 ALL 196

-5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.45 ALL 272

7.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.97 ALL 156

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.00 ALL 79.3

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.08 ALL 164

-31.73%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.67 ALL 211

-18.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.42 ALL 823

52.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$8.65 ALL 684

-64.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.74 ALL 1,164

-33.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.99 ALL 157

32.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.34 ALL 185

-52.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.75 ALL 138

-6.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.69 ALL 133

-9.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.08 ALL 85.0

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.32 ALL 105

-14.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.21 ALL 96.0

-38.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.76 ALL 59.7

-34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.28 ALL 338

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.21 ALL 806

76.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.80 ALL 142

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.93 ALL 153

50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.48 ALL 38.12

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.06 ALL 1,585

175.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.80 ALL 300

-67.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$3.85 ALL 304

-86.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$18.95 ALL 1,497

-87.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.24 ALL 177

-35.71%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$35.3K ALL 2.8M

-39.92%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$25.3K ALL 2.0M

8.02%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$63.7 ALL 5,032

1.91%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$16.32 ALL 1,289

-18.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$17.49 ALL 1,382

19.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$57.8 ALL 4,562

-30.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.56 ALL 676

-21.61%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$100 ALL 7,912

685.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$8,275 ALL 653.5K

82.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$51.0 ALL 4,024

10.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$47.57 ALL 3,757

-47.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$99.2 ALL 7,838

-6.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$115 ALL 9,054

-34.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$493 ALL 38.9K

-1.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$338 ALL 26.7K

-15.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$722 ALL 57.0K

25.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$484 ALL 38.2K

9.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,910 ALL 150.8K

3.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,280 ALL 101.1K

13.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kamez: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $493 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Kamez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $260 – 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 16% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,659 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Kamez at $1,106. 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 $950 versus $1,106 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.