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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Perm, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,609 in Perm, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,157 in Perm, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Perm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Perm are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Perm 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$9.08 ₽723

-77.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$32.07 ₽2,552

-41.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.55 ₽442

41.62%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.24 ₽179

-9.38%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.99 ₽78.9

-19.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.44 ₽35.00

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.24 ₽98.4

72.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.60 ₽207

41.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.98 ₽78.2

76.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.67 ₽53.3

134.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.51 ₽120

-20.53%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.80 ₽143

9.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.23 ₽734

75.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.55 ₽362

-32.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$9.94 ₽791

8.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.65 ₽132

67.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.92 ₽153

-39.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.72 ₽137

-0.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.50 ₽199

-36.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.92 ₽73.3

51.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.86 ₽68.4

34.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.12 ₽89.5

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.71 ₽56.8

-26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.11 ₽248

49.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.40 ₽748

89.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.02 ₽81.2

75.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.97 ₽157

69.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.50 ₽39.74

82.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$23.07 ₽1,836

-19.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.83 ₽146

-22.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.17 ₽13.49

688.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.62 ₽368

75.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.79 ₽63.2

55.70%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$31.7K ₽2.5M

-32.35%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$38.5K ₽3.1M

-43.37%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$101 ₽8,016

-29.18%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$5.74 ₽457

144.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$9.42 ₽750

90.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$31.18 ₽2,482

30.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$17.06 ₽1,357

-59.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.99 ₽397

14.63%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$336 ₽26.7K

-8.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$4,814 ₽383.2K

204.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$97.4 ₽7,750

-42.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$40.13 ₽3,194

-35.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$140 ₽11.2K

-39.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$150 ₽11.9K

-52.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$548 ₽43.6K

-22.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$360 ₽28.6K

-32.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$822 ₽65.4K

-3.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$583 ₽46.4K

-13.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$2,495 ₽198.6K

-23.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,627 ₽129.5K

-10.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$915 ₽72.8K

-34.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.62

-71.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Perm: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $548 in Perm. 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 54% higher in Perm, 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 $32.00 in Perm. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Perm – so Perm 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 Perm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perm costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,593 in Perm. 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $336 in Perm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Perm – 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 Perm at $1,062. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,062 in Perm. 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, Perm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.