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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 15.2% more expensive than Palmas without rent, and 17.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 33.4% more expensive than Palmas without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$3.70 R$19.41
-45.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$18.35 R$96.3
1.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$7.10 R$37.26
5.35%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.29 R$6.76
55.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$1.73 R$9.08
-50.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$1.05 R$5.51
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.24 R$6.50
78.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.67 R$14.01
40.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$0.99 R$5.20
73.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.39 R$7.29
17.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.74 R$9.11
-33.33%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.34 R$12.28
-15.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$6.24 R$32.77
155.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$3.52 R$18.48
-9.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$5.86 R$30.78
86.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.14 R$11.24
23.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.60 R$8.38
-23.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.20 R$6.31
41.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.09 R$5.75
45.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.15 R$6.04
14.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.11 R$5.83
5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.75 R$3.94
-9.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.62 R$3.26
-9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.16 R$11.36
108.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$6.87 R$36.09
177.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.03 R$5.41
71.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.00 R$10.50
59.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.66 R$3.49
45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$39.09 R$205
-51.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$1.06 R$5.56
28.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.76 R$3.98
77.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$6.53 R$34.30
22.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.09 R$5.73
13.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$20.8K R$109.2K
1.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$27.8K R$146.2K
-21.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$116 R$607
-38.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$10.59 R$55.6
33.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$17.65 R$92.6
-1.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$21.55 R$113
95.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$22.00 R$115
-68.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$5.50 R$28.86
8.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$129 R$680
137.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$6,552 R$34.4K
125.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$38.14 R$200
45.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$42.48 R$223
-36.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$90.2 R$473
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$57.9 R$304
21.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$221 R$1,159
93.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$145 R$761
63.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$456 R$2,392
75.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$292 R$1,532
72.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$1,556 R$8,168
32.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$1,177 R$6,179
30.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Palmas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$285 R$1,497
129.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.92
-54.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Palmas: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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