Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Paget Parish Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Paget Parish

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,489 in Paget Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $10.1K in Paget Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $14.8K in Paget Parish, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 83% cheaper than Paget Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Paget Parish is 298% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$49.41 BMD 49.41

-95.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$147 BMD 147

-86.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$16.58 BMD 16.58

-65.08%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.1

$6.18 BMD 6.18

-70.39%

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

$0.78 ฿25.49

$3.07 BMD 3.07

-74.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$3.18 BMD 3.18

-90.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.8

$7.70 BMD 7.70

-69.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$9.05 BMD 9.05

-59.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$4.57 BMD 4.57

-55.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$8.59 BMD 8.59

-81.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.53

$5.58 BMD 5.58

-74.55%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$5.82 BMD 5.82

-62.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$18.94 BMD 18.94

-16.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$17.47 BMD 17.47

-82.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$27.46 BMD 27.46

-64.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$12.98 BMD 12.98

-79.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.02

$6.52 BMD 6.52

-83.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$13.19 BMD 13.19

-87.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.3

$10.85 BMD 10.85

-85.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.93

$6.66 BMD 6.66

-81.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.19

$3.12 BMD 3.12

-63.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.26

$6.67 BMD 6.67

-88.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.40

$3.70 BMD 3.70

-86.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$17.74 BMD 17.74

-75.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$24.76 BMD 24.76

-27.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.8

$5.30 BMD 5.30

-67.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.2

$4.46 BMD 4.46

-34.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

$4.37 BMD 4.37

-78.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,818

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.56

$6.43 BMD 6.43

-80.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.57

$2.97 BMD 2.97

-82.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.9

$70.6 BMD 70.6

-96.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.32

$2.15 BMD 2.15

-33.02%

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

$21.2K ฿696.8K

$20.4K BMD 20.4K

4.13%

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

$27.3K ฿897.8K

$34.6K BMD 34.6K

-21.01%

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

$64.9 ฿2,135

$257 BMD 257

-74.77%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$150 BMD 150

-91.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿685

$118 BMD 118

-82.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,329

$200 BMD 200

-79.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$13.23 BMD 13.23

-49.28%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$1,309 BMD 1,309

-39.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.2K

$25.4K BMD 25.4K

-40.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,849

$89.6 BMD 89.6

-37.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿820

$70.8 BMD 70.8

-64.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,048

$140 BMD 140

-34.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,470

$128 BMD 128

-41.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$3,993 BMD 3,993

-87.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,446

$3,118 BMD 3,118

-90.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$8,342 BMD 8,342

-89.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$9,090 BMD 9,090

-94.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

$6,082 BMD 6,082

-76.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$4,053 BMD 4,053

-85.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.63

-35.46%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Paget Parish: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $3,993 in Paget Parish. 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 570% higher in Paget Parish, 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 $147 in Paget Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $797 – 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 Paget Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paget Parish costs about 478% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $8,233 in Paget Parish. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $147 in Paget Parish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 229% more in Paget Parish, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Paget Parish at $5,489. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paget Parish it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $5,489 in Paget Parish. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paget Parish makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.