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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,201 in Permet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,851 in Permet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,502 in Permet, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Permet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Permet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Permet 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$11.96 ALL 977

-83.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$59.7 ALL 4,877

-68.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$9.58 ALL 783

-19.10%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.95 ALL 160

-1.54%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.84 ALL 150

-57.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.99 ALL 80.5

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.01 ALL 246

-26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.14 ALL 338

-11.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.13 ALL 174

-22.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.08 ALL 88.6

50.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.19 ALL 179

-45.66%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.85 ALL 314

-48.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$12.86 ALL 1,051

24.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.87 ALL 643

-61.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$15.95 ALL 1,303

-31.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.72 ALL 141

60.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.74 ALL 224

-56.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.97 ALL 161

-16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.91 ALL 156

-20.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.32 ALL 108

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.28 ALL 104

-7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.47 ALL 120

-52.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.79 ALL 64.9

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.28 ALL 349

7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.89 ALL 889

52.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.60 ALL 130

14.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.07 ALL 169

54.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.45 ALL 36.56

95.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$18.55 ALL 1,516

0.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.59 ALL 293

-62.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.15 ALL 258

-57.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.98 ALL 1,469

-56.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.08 ALL 170

-40.87%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$39.9K ALL 3.3M

-45.78%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$35.1K ALL 2.9M

-35.68%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$106 ALL 8,651

-33.38%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.72 ALL 1,447

-22.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$18.36 ALL 1,500

-4.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$54.7 ALL 4,472

-24.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.44 ALL 2,078

-72.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.34 ALL 763

-38.22%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$161 ALL 13.1K

91.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,569 ALL 455.0K

162.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$68.6 ALL 5,601

-18.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$51.3 ALL 4,189

-48.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$107 ALL 8,764

-20.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$131 ALL 10.7K

-44.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$446 ALL 36.4K

-3.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$343 ALL 28.0K

-30.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$615 ALL 50.2K

32.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$426 ALL 34.8K

19.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,029 ALL 165.7K

-2.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,124 ALL 91.8K

32.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-9.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Permet: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $446 in Permet. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $60.0 in Permet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $280 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Permet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Permet costs about 38% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,801 in Permet. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Permet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Permet, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Permet at $1,201. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Permet it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,201 in Permet. 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, Permet makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.