🙂A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,069 in Koh Phan Ghan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,729 in Koh Phan Ghan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,389 in Koh Phan Ghan, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Koh Phan Ghan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Koh Phan Ghan22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿68.5
$4.18฿137
-50.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿646
$29.44฿968
-33.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿186
$8.09฿266
-30.16%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.3
$2.62฿86.0
-30.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.44
$0.75฿24.72
-5.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.38
$0.40฿13.27
-20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿73.5
$2.16฿71.0
3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿119
$3.49฿115
4.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿64.4
$1.77฿58.3
10.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.38
$1.33฿43.85
12.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿43.92
$1.47฿48.18
-8.84%
Eggs
$2.26฿74.4
$2.11฿69.2
7.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿534
$18.42฿605
-11.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿97.1
$3.27฿108
-9.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿327
$10.93฿359
-9.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿84.5
$2.73฿89.6
-5.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿34.72
$1.53฿50.1
-30.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$2.15฿70.5
-25.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.96
$1.96฿64.5
-22.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿41.76
$1.40฿46.05
-9.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.05
$1.32฿43.46
-18.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.67
$1.06฿34.89
-32.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.72
$0.54฿17.74
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿138
$4.27฿140
-1.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿587
$17.63฿579
1.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿55.7
$1.69฿55.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿93.2
$2.77฿91.1
2.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.42
$2.07฿68.0
-55.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,770
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.58
$2.65฿87.0
-53.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿18.96
$0.98฿32.08
-40.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿79.7
$3.50฿115
-30.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.42
$1.29฿42.46
9.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿704.9K
$24.6K฿807.6K
-12.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿898.5K
$24.2K฿796.1K
12.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,093
$103฿3,373
-37.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿423
$11.24฿369
14.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿665
$17.29฿568
16.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,274
$52.8฿1,735
-26.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿130
$11.10฿365
-64.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿221
$7.64฿251
-11.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.6K
$573฿18.8K
35.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿480.2K
$11.7K฿383.5K
25.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,785
$63.4฿2,083
-14.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿836
$29.29฿963
-13.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,101
$97.1฿3,193
-2.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,414
$90.6฿2,979
-18.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.1K
$522฿17.2K
-6.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,510
$339฿11.2K
-14.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.4K
$1,460฿48.0K
-38.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.0K
$869฿28.5K
-40.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.3K
$2,461฿80.9K
-20.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿48.5K
$1,830฿60.1K
-19.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿19.8K
$741฿24.4K
-18.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $522 in Koh Phan Ghan. 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 23% higher in Koh Phan Ghan, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Koh Phan Ghan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $258 – 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 Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Koh Phan Ghan?
Koh Phan Ghan costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Koh Phan Ghan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,603 in Koh Phan Ghan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Koh Phan Ghan?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Koh Phan Ghan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Koh Phan Ghan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Koh Phan Ghan?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Koh Phan Ghan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Koh Phan Ghan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Koh Phan Ghan at $1,069. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Phan Ghan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Koh Phan Ghan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,069 in Koh Phan Ghan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Koh Phan Ghan?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Koh Phan Ghan?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Koh Phan Ghan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared