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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 10.4% cheaper than Panajachel without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 1.6% cheaper than Panajachel without rent, and 23.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.5 Q 34.59
-55.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$32.46 Q 249
-42.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.45 Q 49.58
18.91%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.55 Q 19.58
-22.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.21 Q 9.31
-32.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.97 Q 7.46
-65.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.63 Q 20.18
-19.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$4.65 Q 35.71
-19.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.11 Q 16.2
-22.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.53 Q 11.75
2.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.11 Q 16.19
-43.60%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.79 Q 13.78
10.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$7.64 Q 58.7
109.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.23 Q 63.2
-62.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$10.26 Q 78.9
8.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.72 Q 28.57
-25.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.51 Q 11.61
-19.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.06 Q 23.51
-44.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.16 Q 8.92
33.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.09 Q 8.39
22.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.27 Q 17.46
-46.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.64 Q 4.88
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.23 Q 9.45
-56.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$3.58 Q 27.54
31.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$7.97 Q 61.2
130.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.61 Q 12.39
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.44 Q 18.72
31.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$5.25 Q 40.33
-72.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.6 Q 4.62
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$15.8 Q 121
-50.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.12 Q 8.62
11.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$19.3K Q 148.4K
9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$25.1K Q 192.8K
-12.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$33.15 Q 255
113.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$26.59 Q 204
-48.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$47.99 Q 369
-63.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$7.31 Q 56.2
-20.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$245 Q 1,886
25.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$5,859 Q 45K
150.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$49.79 Q 383
11.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$53.6 Q 412
-50.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$114 Q 877
-25.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$124 Q 950
-41.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.9
-43.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Panajachel: October 27, 2025

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