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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,204 in Paszto, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,813 in Paszto, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,422 in Paszto, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Paszto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Paszto are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Paszto 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.44 Ft 3,568

-82.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$48.29 Ft 15.1K

-61.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.97 Ft 2,485

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.59 Ft 808

-26.25%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.38 Ft 431

-39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.94 Ft 292

-62.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.57 Ft 803

-14.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.54 Ft 792

49.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.12 Ft 349

46.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.52 Ft 474

6.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.85 Ft 578

-36.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.81 Ft 877

-28.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.30 Ft 2,900

70.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.72 Ft 1,786

-47.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$11.11 Ft 3,467

-3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.17 Ft 678

20.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.02 Ft 631

-39.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.02 Ft 631

-15.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.34 Ft 1,355

-63.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.34 Ft 418

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.32 Ft 413

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.50 Ft 467

-55.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.49 Ft 153

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.44 Ft 2,320

-39.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.80 Ft 1,496

279.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.09 Ft 341

67.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.19 Ft 372

171.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.12 Ft 349

-20.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$24.71 Ft 7,710

-21.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.86 Ft 892

-52.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.16 Ft 361

16.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.36 Ft 5,417

-52.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.68 Ft 525

-24.40%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.9K Ft 10.0M

-33.75%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$36.6K Ft 11.4M

-38.65%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$145 Ft 45.1K

-51.49%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$29.72 Ft 9,272

-53.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$24.41 Ft 7,617

-27.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$47.25 Ft 14.7K

-12.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$16.74 Ft 5,224

-60.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.71 Ft 2,407

-25.03%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$461 Ft 143.9K

-33.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,775 Ft 2.1M

118.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$90.8 Ft 28.3K

-40.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.67 Ft 8,008

1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$94.7 Ft 29.6K

-10.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$104 Ft 32.3K

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$438 Ft 136.6K

-3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$349 Ft 108.7K

-31.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$646 Ft 201.6K

27.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$526 Ft 164.3K

-2.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$3,125 Ft 974.9K

-34.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$2,507 Ft 782.1K

-39.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$771 Ft 240.6K

-17.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Paszto: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $438 in Paszto. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Paszto, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Paszto. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Paszto – so Paszto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Paszto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paszto costs about 41% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,806 in Paszto. 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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $461 in Paszto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Paszto – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Paszto at $1,204. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paszto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,204 in Paszto. 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, Paszto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.