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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Kemaman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,407 in Kemaman, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,860 in Kemaman, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Kemaman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kemaman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kemaman 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.62 MYR 10.35

-25.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$14.31 MYR 56.5

31.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.83 MYR 15.14

106.79%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.31 MYR 9.12

-17.32%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.49 MYR 1.92

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.36 MYR 1.44

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$4.17 MYR 16.49

-47.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$5.32 MYR 21.01

-28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.91 MYR 7.53

-14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.01 MYR 4.00

60.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.98 MYR 3.86

20.41%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.11 MYR 4.38

81.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$14.41 MYR 56.9

10.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.70 MYR 14.60

-18.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.41 MYR 37.17

14.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.86 MYR 15.23

-32.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.71 MYR 6.74

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$3.42 MYR 13.50

-50.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.55 MYR 10.09

-38.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.76 MYR 6.97

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.03 MYR 4.07

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.13 MYR 4.45

-40.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.46 MYR 1.81

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.35 MYR 17.18

4.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$20.31 MYR 80.2

-10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$4.22 MYR 16.68

-56.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$5.39 MYR 21.29

-40.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.70 MYR 2.76

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$11.56 MYR 45.68

67.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.21 MYR 4.77

11.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.11 MYR 4.37

21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.24 MYR 16.76

94.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.50 MYR 1.96

154.00%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$43.8K MYR 172.8K

-51.65%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$31.7K MYR 125.1K

-29.00%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$73.1 MYR 289

-3.98%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.97 MYR 39.38

38.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$28.42 MYR 112

-38.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.18 MYR 147

11.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$6.03 MYR 23.83

9.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.61 MYR 22.16

3.03%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$116 MYR 456

165.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,396 MYR 17.4K

237.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$111 MYR 438

-50.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.36 MYR 108

-4.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$74.2 MYR 293

13.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$79.6 MYR 314

-12.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$393 MYR 1,551

7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$272 MYR 1,073

-12.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$654 MYR 2,583

26.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$471 MYR 1,861

9.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,799 MYR 7,107

13.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$881 MYR 3,481

72.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

26.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kemaman: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $393 in Kemaman. 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 $14.00 in Kemaman. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $273 in Kemaman – so Chiang Mai 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 Kemaman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kemaman costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,431 in Kemaman. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in Kemaman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Kemaman, 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 $852, than in Kemaman at $954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kemaman it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $954 in Kemaman. 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, Kemaman makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.