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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 116.9% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 95.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 161.7% more expensive than Karakol without rent, and 114.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$2.31 KGS 202
-12.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$9.13 KGS 798
103.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.77 KGS 155
12.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.59 KGS 51.9
44.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.30 KGS 26.41
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.17 KGS 103
88.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$1.70 KGS 148
121.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$0.72 KGS 63.2
138.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.22 KGS 19.17
640.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.40 KGS 123
-17.14%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.68 KGS 147
17.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$6.82 KGS 597
133.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$3.93 KGS 343
-19.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$5.70 KGS 499
91.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$0.77 KGS 67.4
244.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.36 KGS 119
-10.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.17 KGS 102
35.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$0.55 KGS 47.88
140.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.33 KGS 28.44
106.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.54 KGS 47.48
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$1.82 KGS 159
147.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$5.22 KGS 457
265.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.16 KGS 102
52.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.24 KGS 196
41.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.22 KGS 19.29
336.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$1.31 KGS 114
3.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$38.85 KGS 3,398
83.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$4.41 KGS 386
219.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$10.00 KGS 874
74.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$15.33 KGS 1,341
174.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$91.2 KGS 7,981
236.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$34.56 KGS 3,023
102.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$225 KGS 19.7K
90.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$171 KGS 15.0K
38.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$287 KGS 25.1K
179.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$291 KGS 25.4K
73.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Karakol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Karakol: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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