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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $503 in Kerman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $841 in Kerman, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,180 in Kerman, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 71% more than Kerman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kerman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kerman 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.96 $3.96

-50.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$16.48 $16.48

11.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.93 $3.93

90.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.50 $1.50

34.67%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.70 $0.70

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.00 $1.00

-64.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.60 $0.60

175.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.53 $0.53

196.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.70 $2.70

-55.93%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.01 $1.01

92.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.48 $3.48

365.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$1.99 $1.99

50.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.46 $8.46

29.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.81 $0.81

234.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.83 $1.83

-36.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.02 $1.02

65.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.64 $0.64

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.63 $0.63

119.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.49 $0.49

144.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.68 $0.68

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.30 $0.30

86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.47 $1.47

215.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.16 $0.16

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$9.86 $9.86

96.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.47 $0.47

189.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.39 $0.39

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.02 $2.02

306.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.78 $0.78

56.41%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$53.6K $53.6K

-60.17%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$44.9K $44.9K

-49.83%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$10.83 $10.83

552.54%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$2.48 $2.48

466.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$5.83 $5.83

200.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$17.11 $17.11

146.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.29 $7.29

-5.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.52 $1.52

289.47%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$116 $116

165.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,941 $1,941

666.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$21.75 $21.75

156.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$25.38 $25.38

2.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$130 $130

-36.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$57.9 $57.9

21.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$338 $338

27.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$167 $167

42.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$827 $827

-0.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$402 $402

27.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$917 $917

108.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$505 $505

190.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$202 $202

187.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

-77.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kerman: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $338 in Kerman. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 187% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Kerman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $103 – making Kerman 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 Kerman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 71% more than Kerman, 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 $755 in Kerman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kerman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in Kerman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 136% 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 $503 in Kerman, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kerman costs $503 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 Kerman. 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.