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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,215 in Permet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,859 in Permet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,503 in Permet, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Permet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Permet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Permet 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.58 ALL 945

-83.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$58.7 ALL 4,790

-67.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.49 ALL 775

-16.54%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.97 ALL 161

-3.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.87 ALL 153

-55.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.93 ALL 75.6

-62.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.97 ALL 243

-25.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.20 ALL 343

-9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.13 ALL 174

-23.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.12 ALL 91.7

44.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.24 ALL 183

-47.32%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.79 ALL 309

-46.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.26 ALL 1,082

19.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.55 ALL 616

-60.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$15.66 ALL 1,279

-31.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.78 ALL 145

46.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.65 ALL 216

-53.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.98 ALL 162

-14.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.91 ALL 156

-17.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.38 ALL 112

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.32 ALL 108

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.50 ALL 123

-55.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.80 ALL 65.6

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.22 ALL 344

7.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.55 ALL 861

72.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.59 ALL 130

15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.16 ALL 176

49.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.45 ALL 37.08

97.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.97 ALL 1,549

2.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.48 ALL 284

-61.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.10 ALL 253

-56.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.96 ALL 1,466

-54.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.08 ALL 170

-38.94%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$40.2K ALL 3.3M

-47.41%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-35.79%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$109 ALL 8,907

-35.70%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.64 ALL 1,441

-21.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$18.78 ALL 1,533

-6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$54.1 ALL 4,416

-23.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$24.90 ALL 2,033

-73.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$9.66 ALL 789

-40.17%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$156 ALL 12.8K

95.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,516 ALL 450.4K

168.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$68.4 ALL 5,584

-20.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$50.1 ALL 4,093

-47.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$106 ALL 8,616

-19.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$127 ALL 10.3K

-45.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$454 ALL 37.0K

-6.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$337 ALL 27.5K

-29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$610 ALL 49.8K

35.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$430 ALL 35.1K

19.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,727 ALL 141.0K

18.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,396 ALL 114.0K

9.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Permet: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $454 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 $59.0 in Permet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $279 – 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 43% 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 $1,823 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $156 in Permet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $852, than in Permet at $1,215. 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 $852 versus $1,215 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.