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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $97.7 in Kanglung, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $161 in Kanglung, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Kanglung, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 781% more than Kanglung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kanglung are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kanglung 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.49 BTN 41.12

220.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.19 BTN 100

63.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$2.23 BTN 189

626.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.26 BTN 191

32.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$2.15 BTN 182

408.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.23 BTN 188

21.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.26 BTN 191

-48.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.26 BTN 191

-25.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.20 BTN 102

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.02 BTN 85.9

-34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.98 BTN 82.5

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.47 BTN 124

26.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$0.98 BTN 82.5

236.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kanglung: July 14, 2026

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 Kanglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 781% more than Kanglung, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $147 in Kanglung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $97.7 in Kanglung. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 146% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $97.7 in Kanglung, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kanglung costs $97.7 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. 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 Kanglung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.