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 1.9% more expensive than La Merced without rent, and 65.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 2.6% cheaper than La Merced without rent, and 50.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.25 PEN 15.34
-52.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$33.09 PEN 120
-43.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.93 PEN 25.03
10.68%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.61 PEN 9.43
-24.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.91 PEN 3.28
-9.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.62 PEN 2.23
-46.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.25 PEN 8.14
-5.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.93 PEN 14.21
-5.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.47 PEN 5.29
11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.91 PEN 6.92
-17.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.28 PEN 4.62
-7.03%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.27 PEN 8.2
-12.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$6.74 PEN 24.36
137.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.44 PEN 19.64
-42.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.2 PEN 29.64
36.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$0.95 PEN 3.44
190.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.4 PEN 1.45
205.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.27 PEN 0.98
533.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.66 PEN 2.4
134.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.29 PEN 1.06
362.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.43 PEN 1.57
181.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.55 PEN 1.99
30.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.88 PEN 3.16
-39.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$5.51 PEN 19.9
-14.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$7.56 PEN 27.31
143.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.76 PEN 6.35
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.94 PEN 10.62
9.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.25 PEN 11.75
-56.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$2.21 PEN 8
-38.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$8.52 PEN 30.77
-7.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.31 PEN 4.74
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$19.6K PEN 70.9K
7.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$24.7K PEN 89.3K
-11.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$57.3 PEN 207
23.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$12.5 PEN 45.17
9.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$23.99 PEN 86.7
-26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$6.77 PEN 24.44
-14.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$222 PEN 803
38.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$7,911 PEN 28.6K
85.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$49.27 PEN 178
12.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$36.42 PEN 132
-27.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$90.1 PEN 326
-5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$91 PEN 329
-21.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
La Merced
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for La Merced: October 28, 2025

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