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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Polomolok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $989 in Polomolok, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,348 in Polomolok, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Polomolok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Polomolok 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$1.63 ₱102

28.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$16.66 ₱1,039

19.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$2.12 ₱133

173.11%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.1

$2.17 ₱135

-15.67%

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

$0.78 ฿25.49

$0.39 ₱24.05

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.69 ₱42.86

-55.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.8

$1.07 ₱66.7

118.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.90 ₱118

94.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.64 ₱102

23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$0.92 ₱57.2

73.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.53

$0.67 ₱41.60

111.94%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$1.96 ₱123

11.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$6.84 ₱426

132.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$2.64 ₱165

16.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$5.67 ₱353

74.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$2.60 ₱162

1.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.02

$0.59 ₱36.62

86.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$2.25 ₱140

-27.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.3

$0.77 ₱48.03

98.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.93

$1.21 ₱75.8

2.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.19

$2.85 ₱178

-60.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.26

$0.77 ₱47.79

-3.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.40

$0.67 ₱41.65

-25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.43 ₱151

76.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$7.17 ₱447

150.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.8

$1.02 ₱63.5

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.2

$1.56 ₱97.3

85.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

$0.25 ₱15.52

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,818

$11.26 ₱702

391.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.56

$0.82 ₱51.3

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.57

$0.25 ₱15.67

112.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.9

$1.90 ₱118

26.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.32

$0.86 ₱53.6

67.44%

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

$21.2K ฿696.8K

$15.8K ₱983.7K

34.34%

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

$27.3K ฿897.8K

$17.7K ₱1.1M

53.87%

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

$64.9 ฿2,135

$52.4 ₱3,267

23.96%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$19.19 ₱1,197

-30.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿685

$26.81 ₱1,672

-22.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,329

$32.56 ₱2,030

24.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$4.95 ₱309

-20.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$3.96 ₱247

69.44%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$108 ₱6,717

630.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.2K

$1,362 ₱84.9K

1010.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,849

$32.47 ₱2,025

73.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿820

$19.27 ₱1,202

29.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,048

$63.1 ₱3,933

46.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,470

$63.3 ₱3,947

18.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$273 ₱17.0K

77.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,446

$174 ₱10.9K

64.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$493 ₱30.7K

84.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$354 ₱22.1K

49.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

$2,590 ₱161.5K

-23.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

$1,042 ₱65.0K

39.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$236 ₱14.7K

156.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-7.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $273 in Polomolok. 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 157% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Polomolok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $159 – making Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Polomolok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $945 in Polomolok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $108 in Polomolok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Polomolok, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Polomolok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Polomolok costs $630 versus $950 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 Polomolok. 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.