Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Paradise Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Paradise Island

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 66% cheaper than Paradise Island without rent, and 49.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 68.9% cheaper than Paradise Island without rent, and 55.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$39.52 BSD 39.52
-94.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$152 BSD 152
-87.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$9.95 BSD 9.95
-24.82%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$5.09 BSD 5.09
-60.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$2.34 BSD 2.34
-63.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$1.74 BSD 1.74
-79.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$4.08 BSD 4.08
-45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$5.97 BSD 5.97
-37.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$4.90 BSD 4.90
-64.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$3.07 BSD 3.07
-46.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$6.18 BSD 6.18
-81.23%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$7.68 BSD 7.68
-74.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$8.58 BSD 8.58
85.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$12.22 BSD 12.22
-74.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$20.41 BSD 20.41
-46.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$5.14 BSD 5.14
-48.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$3.39 BSD 3.39
-64.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$4.80 BSD 4.80
-64.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$7.16 BSD 7.16
-77.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$5.06 BSD 5.06
-73.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$4.50 BSD 4.50
-74.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$3.52 BSD 3.52
-80.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$2.95 BSD 2.95
-81.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$13.58 BSD 13.58
-66.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$34.75 BSD 34.75
-45.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$3.87 BSD 3.87
-54.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$4.45 BSD 4.45
-28.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$6.05 BSD 6.05
-77.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$98.8 BSD 98.8
-91.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$1.44 BSD 1.44
-13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$36.9K BSD 36.9K
-42.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$43.6K BSD 43.6K
-50.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$196 BSD 196
-63.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$71.4 BSD 71.4
-80.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$98.8 BSD 98.8
-82.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$129 BSD 129
-67.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$14.99 BSD 14.99
-60.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$713 BSD 713
-56.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$15.4K BSD 15.4K
-3.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$63.5 BSD 63.5
-12.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$75.3 BSD 75.3
-64.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$116 BSD 116
-28.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$129 BSD 129
-45.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$5,415 BSD 5,415
-85.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Paradise Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$2,461 BSD 2,461
-73.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
7.05
-29.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: March 3, 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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