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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,217 in Permet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,877 in Permet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,538 in Permet, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Permet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Permet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Permet 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$10.08 ALL 799

-79.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿654

$57.2 ALL 4,531

-65.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$11.36 ALL 900

-50.09%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.2

$2.42 ALL 192

-25.21%

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

$0.77 ฿25.60

$2.47 ALL 195

-68.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.50

$1.28 ALL 101

-72.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.8

$3.66 ALL 290

-39.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.09 ALL 324

-7.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$2.20 ALL 175

-6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$1.24 ALL 98.0

21.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.61

$2.39 ALL 190

-41.42%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.80 ALL 301

-40.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.78 ALL 1,092

17.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$9.13 ALL 724

-68.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$17.45 ALL 1,383

-46.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.95 ALL 154

37.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.31

$2.53 ALL 201

-56.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.9

$2.19 ALL 174

-26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.66

$1.92 ALL 152

-23.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.57

$1.08 ALL 85.3

18.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.25

$1.27 ALL 101

-16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.90

$1.43 ALL 113

-49.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$0.82 ALL 65.3

-35.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.88 ALL 387

-13.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿610

$11.34 ALL 898

61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.75 ALL 138

-6.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.13 ALL 169

36.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

$0.52 ALL 41.12

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

$17.95 ALL 1,423

199.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.07

$3.79 ALL 300

-69.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.26

$3.73 ALL 296

-84.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

$18.75 ALL 1,486

-87.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$2.39 ALL 189

-39.33%

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

$21.0K ฿700.1K

$34.1K ALL 2.7M

-38.40%

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

$26.4K ฿880.5K

$36.1K ALL 2.9M

-26.81%

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

$63.7 ฿2,121

$103 ALL 8,160

-38.19%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$19.32 ALL 1,531

-33.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿684

$20.66 ALL 1,637

-0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,300

$59.9 ALL 4,745

-34.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.92 ALL 786

-33.67%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$357 ALL 28.3K

119.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

$8,271 ALL 655.5K

77.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,836

$50.6 ALL 4,010

8.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$48.01 ALL 3,805

-48.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,136

$125 ALL 9,877

-24.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

$117 ALL 9,252

-36.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$484 ALL 38.3K

1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,602

$371 ALL 29.4K

-22.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$738 ALL 58.5K

20.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$496 ALL 39.3K

5.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

$1,745 ALL 138.3K

13.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,117 ALL 88.5K

29.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.64

-1.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Permet: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $484 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $57.0 in Permet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $299 – 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 31% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,826 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $357 in Permet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $932, than in Permet at $1,217. 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 $932 versus $1,217 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.