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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Phitsanulok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,353 in Phitsanulok, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,969 in Phitsanulok, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Phitsanulok, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Phitsanulok 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.04 ฿66.8

-3.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$18.39 ฿601

2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.91 ฿259

0.13%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.00 ฿65.3

-4.50%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.84 ฿27.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.33 ฿10.65

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.10 ฿68.7

5.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.79 ฿124

0.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.72 ฿56.2

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.05 ฿34.31

54.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.15 ฿37.64

2.61%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.95 ฿63.7

3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$16.25 ฿531

-2.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.12 ฿102

-3.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.86 ฿355

-0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.71 ฿88.7

-3.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.17 ฿38.28

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.64 ฿53.7

3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.59 ฿52.0

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.32 ฿43.23

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.20 ฿39.31

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.70 ฿23.05

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.53 ฿17.18

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.60 ฿150

-1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$18.48 ฿604

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.83 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.16 ฿103

2.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.89 ฿29.12

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.42 ฿46.40

-4.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.30 ฿42.46

3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$8.17 ฿267

0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.24 ฿40.53

2.42%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$21.8K ฿712.0K

-2.84%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$21.8K ฿713.3K

3.08%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$71.1 ฿2,325

-1.34%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$14.10 ฿461

-2.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$6.32 ฿207

178.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$50.2 ฿1,642

-17.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$12.10 ฿396

-45.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.88 ฿192

-1.70%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$310 ฿10.1K

-1.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$14.7K ฿479.5K

1.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$56.4 ฿1,844

-3.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$26.05 ฿852

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$83.4 ฿2,727

1.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$72.0 ฿2,356

-3.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$418 ฿13.7K

1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$139 ฿4,549

71.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$805 ฿26.3K

2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$652 ฿21.3K

-20.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,404 ฿78.6K

-14.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,510 ฿49.4K

0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$497 ฿16.2K

27.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phitsanulok: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $418 in Phitsanulok. 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 28% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Phitsanulok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $240 – making Phitsanulok 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 Phitsanulok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Phitsanulok, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,105 in Phitsanulok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phitsanulok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $18.00 in Phitsanulok. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $736 in Phitsanulok, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phitsanulok costs $736 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Phitsanulok. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.