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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,419 in Konin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,013 in Konin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,607 in Konin, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Konin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Konin is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$10.96 zł 39.88
-82.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$55.0 zł 200
-65.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$8.80 zł 32.03
-10.00%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$3.97 zł 14.46
-51.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$1.79 zł 6.50
-53.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$1.41 zł 5.12
-75.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$4.02 zł 14.64
-45.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$4.19 zł 15.26
-9.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.03 zł 3.76
59.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$1.35 zł 4.90
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$1.11 zł 4.02
6.31%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$3.21 zł 11.69
-37.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$9.63 zł 35.04
65.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$4.87 zł 17.73
-38.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$3.71 zł 13.49
190.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$1.15 zł 4.17
126.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$1.32 zł 4.81
-7.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$1.37 zł 4.99
24.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$3.25 zł 11.81
-51.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$1.10 zł 4.01
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$1.27 zł 4.63
-7.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$1.29 zł 4.69
-48.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.75 zł 2.72
-25.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$4.26 zł 15.52
6.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$2.73 zł 9.94
566.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$0.80 zł 2.90
128.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.02 zł 7.35
59.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$1.06 zł 3.85
-16.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$32.97 zł 120
-41.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$2.65 zł 9.64
-49.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$0.88 zł 3.21
53.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$10.63 zł 38.70
-22.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$1.77 zł 6.43
-28.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$34.2K zł 124.4K
-38.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$31.2K zł 113.7K
-27.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$326 zł 1,186
-78.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$9.97 zł 36.29
38.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$13.32 zł 48.50
32.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$35.83 zł 130
16.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
$19.91 zł 72.5
-66.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$5.55 zł 20.19
4.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$136 zł 493
125.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$9,390 zł 34.2K
57.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$55.2 zł 201
-1.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$27.49 zł 100
-4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$53.4 zł 194
58.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$55.3 zł 201
25.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$637 zł 2,319
-33.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$498 zł 1,813
-52.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$995 zł 3,622
-17.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$816 zł 2,972
-36.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
$3,064 zł 11.2K
-33.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
$2,315 zł 8,426
-34.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Konin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
$1,015 zł 3,694
-37.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
7.38
-32.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Konin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $637 in Konin. 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 60% higher in Konin, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $55.0 in Konin. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $174 in Konin – so Konin 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 Konin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Konin?
Konin costs about 66% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 vs Konin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,128 in Konin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Konin?
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 childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Konin?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $136 in Konin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Konin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 40% cheaper in Konin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Konin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Konin at $1,419. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Konin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Konin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,419 in Konin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Konin?
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 Konin?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Konin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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