Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and La Merced Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and La Merced

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 30.8% more expensive than La Merced without rent, and 63.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 6.3% more expensive than La Merced without rent, and 49.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$4.09 PEN 14.15
-50.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$33.07 PEN 114
-43.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$6.83 PEN 23.64
9.52%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$2.65 PEN 9.16
-24.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.98 PEN 3.40
-13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.65 PEN 2.24
-46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$2.18 PEN 7.54
1.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$3.97 PEN 13.72
-5.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.47 PEN 5.09
17.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.90 PEN 6.56
-14.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.23 PEN 4.27
-5.69%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.15 PEN 7.45
-7.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$6.81 PEN 23.55
133.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$5.69 PEN 19.68
-44.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$8.57 PEN 29.66
27.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$0.93 PEN 3.22
184.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$0.40 PEN 1.39
205.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$0.27 PEN 0.92
529.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$0.72 PEN 2.47
120.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$0.29 PEN 1.01
355.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$0.40 PEN 1.38
192.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.57 PEN 1.99
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.89 PEN 3.07
-37.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$5.58 PEN 19.32
-19.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$7.52 PEN 26.01
153.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.75 PEN 6.04
1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.95 PEN 10.22
7.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$3.32 PEN 11.47
-59.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$2.20 PEN 7.61
-38.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$8.35 PEN 28.87
-3.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.32 PEN 4.57
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$19.8K PEN 68.4K
7.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$24.9K PEN 86.3K
-12.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$57.0 PEN 197
25.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$12.54 PEN 43.40
12.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$24.17 PEN 83.6
-27.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$6.74 PEN 23.32
-11.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$223 PEN 771
37.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$8,017 PEN 27.7K
84.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$49.92 PEN 173
11.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$36.73 PEN 127
-27.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$90.4 PEN 313
-7.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$89.3 PEN 309
-21.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.11
-50.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for La Merced: 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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