Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $834 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $651 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Las Tablas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Las Tablas 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$10.16 PAB 10.16

-80.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.85 PAB 29.85

-37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.49 PAB 1.49

42.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.96 PAB 2.96

26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-5.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.91 PAB 5.91

215.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.39 PAB 1.39

29.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.97 PAB 0.97

45.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.87 PAB 0.87

45.98%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$152 PAB 152

-54.69%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$15.23 PAB 15.23

-7.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$29.42 PAB 29.42

-38.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$20.27 PAB 20.27

102.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$690 PAB 690

-37.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$492 PAB 492

-51.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $690 in Las Tablas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Las Tablas. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $27.00 in Las Tablas – so Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Las Tablas, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,252 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $834 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 815% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $834 in Las Tablas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $834 versus $866 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 Las Tablas. 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.