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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,208 in Pecs, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,808 in Pecs, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,409 in Pecs, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$8.39 Ft 2,608

-76.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$43.65 Ft 13.6K

-56.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$8.66 Ft 2,692

-8.55%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$2.18 Ft 676

-12.39%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.15 Ft 358

-26.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.92 Ft 287

-61.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.59 Ft 495

38.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.13 Ft 663

78.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.06 Ft 330

54.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.54 Ft 479

5.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.91 Ft 595

-38.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.46 Ft 766

-18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$9.12 Ft 2,834

74.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$5.87 Ft 1,825

-48.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$14.15 Ft 4,398

-23.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.00 Ft 623

30.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$2.10 Ft 653

-41.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$2.21 Ft 688

-23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$3.64 Ft 1,133

-56.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.26 Ft 393

4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.29 Ft 400

-9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.80 Ft 558

-62.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.53 Ft 165

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$7.08 Ft 2,201

-36.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$4.74 Ft 1,475

283.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.20 Ft 374

52.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.09 Ft 651

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$1.42 Ft 440

-37.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$24.05 Ft 7,475

-19.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$3.08 Ft 958

-56.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$1.12 Ft 348

20.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$23.05 Ft 7,166

-64.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.78 Ft 552

-28.65%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$27.7K Ft 8.6M

-23.58%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$31.1K Ft 9.7M

-27.78%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$162 Ft 50.3K

-56.65%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$26.96 Ft 8,380

-48.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$19.86 Ft 6,174

-11.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$44.04 Ft 13.7K

-5.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$21.55 Ft 6,699

-69.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$7.75 Ft 2,408

-25.42%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$398 Ft 123.7K

-23.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$7,079 Ft 2.2M

109.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$91.4 Ft 28.4K

-40.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$44.02 Ft 13.7K

-40.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$94.0 Ft 29.2K

-10.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$103 Ft 31.9K

-32.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$508 Ft 157.8K

-16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$369 Ft 114.8K

-35.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$697 Ft 216.8K

18.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$559 Ft 173.6K

-7.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$3,500 Ft 1.1M

-41.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

$2,978 Ft 925.8K

-48.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$1,141 Ft 354.6K

-44.32%

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 Pecs: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $508 in Pecs. 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 80% higher in Pecs, 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 $44.00 in Pecs. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Pecs – so Pecs 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 Pecs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pecs costs about 42% 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 $1,812 in Pecs. 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 $398 in Pecs. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Pecs – 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 Pecs at $1,208. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pecs it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,208 in Pecs. 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, Pecs makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.