Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pale Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pale

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 5.6% cheaper than Pale without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 15.3% cheaper than Pale without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$7.15 BAM 12.06
-71.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$35.49 BAM 59.9
-47.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.65 BAM 14.6
-11.33%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.6 BAM 2.7
23.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.92 BAM 3.24
-57.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.16 BAM 1.95
-71.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.1 BAM 3.54
0.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.39 BAM 4.04
56.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.4 BAM 2.36
17.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.22 BAM 2.05
28.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.6 BAM 2.7
-25.63%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.95 BAM 4.98
-32.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.21 BAM 15.55
73.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.51 BAM 14.36
-63.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$12.57 BAM 21.21
-11.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$1.4 BAM 2.36
97.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.82 BAM 3.06
-32.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.98 BAM 3.35
-13.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$2.14 BAM 3.62
-27.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.16 BAM 1.95
15.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.29 BAM 2.18
-6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.28 BAM 2.17
-43.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.74 BAM 1.26
-28.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$3.75 BAM 6.32
25.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$7.05 BAM 11.9
160.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.05 BAM 1.77
70.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.31 BAM 2.21
145.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.77 BAM 2.98
-46.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$35.64 BAM 60.2
-46.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.51 BAM 2.55
-5.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.82 BAM 1.39
64.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$8.77 BAM 14.81
-10.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.48 BAM 2.5
-15.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$26.1K BAM 44K
-18.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$27.3K BAM 46.1K
-20.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$169 BAM 285
-58.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$18.83 BAM 31.78
-27.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$23.37 BAM 39.44
-24.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$23.49 BAM 39.64
77.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$8.74 BAM 14.75
-21.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$4.84 BAM 8.17
19.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$242 BAM 408
27.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$3,364 BAM 5,678
337.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$73.9 BAM 125
-25.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$36.62 BAM 61.8
-27.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$101 BAM 171
-16.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$126 BAM 212
-42.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$187 BAM 316
131.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$154 BAM 260
52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$288 BAM 486
185.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$222 BAM 376
123.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,403 BAM 2,369
55.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,203 BAM 2,030
28.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Pale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$738 BAM 1,245
-4.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.07
22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Pale: October 28, 2025

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