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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,516 in Paget Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $12.7K in Paget Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $18.8K in Paget Parish, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 87% cheaper than Paget Parish, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Paget Parish is 386% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$59.7 BMD 59.7

-96.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$180 BMD 180

-89.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$14.77 BMD 14.77

-47.05%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$6.28 BMD 6.28

-68.95%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.39 BMD 3.39

-74.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.96 BMD 2.96

-88.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$9.95 BMD 9.95

-78.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.48 BMD 8.48

-56.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.48 BMD 4.48

-61.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$8.50 BMD 8.50

-80.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$5.44 BMD 5.44

-79.04%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.69 BMD 7.69

-74.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.66 BMD 11.66

39.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$24.46 BMD 24.46

-87.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$32.67 BMD 32.67

-66.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$10.39 BMD 10.39

-73.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$6.49 BMD 6.49

-81.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$12.98 BMD 12.98

-87.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$11.22 BMD 11.22

-85.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$8.55 BMD 8.55

-83.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$5.13 BMD 5.13

-77.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$6.01 BMD 6.01

-89.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$3.17 BMD 3.17

-83.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$17.37 BMD 17.37

-73.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$24.32 BMD 24.32

-23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$5.45 BMD 5.45

-66.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.61 BMD 4.61

-29.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$4.46 BMD 4.46

-79.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$6.39 BMD 6.39

-77.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$53.4 BMD 53.4

-85.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.25 BMD 2.25

-43.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.4K BMD 34.4K

-38.08%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$38.8K BMD 38.8K

-42.70%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$237 BMD 237

-70.81%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$118 BMD 118

-88.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$159 BMD 159

-88.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$197 BMD 197

-79.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.57 BMD 13.57

-56.37%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$1,295 BMD 1,295

-76.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$24.9K BMD 24.9K

-40.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$81.4 BMD 81.4

-32.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$60.6 BMD 60.6

-55.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$139 BMD 139

-38.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$125 BMD 125

-43.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$4,669 BMD 4,669

-90.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$4,178 BMD 4,178

-94.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$12.4K BMD 12.4K

-93.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$13.0K BMD 13.0K

-96.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$6,233 BMD 6,233

-76.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

-30.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Paget Parish: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $4,669 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $180 in Paget Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $820 – 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 652% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $9,774 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $180 in Paget Parish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 233% 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 $866, than in Paget Parish at $6,516. 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 $866 versus $6,516 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.