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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $667 in Polomolok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,034 in Polomolok, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,401 in Polomolok, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Polomolok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Polomolok 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.76 ₱108

11.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$13.27 ₱817

38.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$2.33 ₱144

221.03%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.15 ₱132

-6.05%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.45 ₱27.79

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.52 ₱32.10

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.18 ₱72.7

81.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.57 ₱96.6

128.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.68 ₱104

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.93 ₱57.3

68.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.73 ₱45.16

63.01%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.98 ₱122

-2.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.13 ₱377

164.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.03 ₱187

-1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.26 ₱385

74.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.81 ₱173

-3.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.60 ₱36.95

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.39 ₱147

-29.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.88 ₱54.0

81.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.34 ₱82.7

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$3.11 ₱191

-61.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.92 ₱56.8

-27.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.56 ₱34.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.58 ₱159

79.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.47 ₱460

135.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.10 ₱67.6

69.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.49 ₱91.6

121.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.28 ₱17.26

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$13.98 ₱861

38.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.93 ₱57.3

46.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.23 ₱14.11

482.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.15 ₱132

281.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.96 ₱59.2

27.08%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$17.8K ₱1.1M

19.80%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

17.09%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$58.6 ₱3,609

20.56%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$12.59 ₱775

11.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$28.91 ₱1,780

-39.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$33.91 ₱2,087

24.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$4.45 ₱274

54.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.30 ₱265

37.67%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$118 ₱7,272

161.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,485 ₱91.4K

901.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$45.59 ₱2,807

22.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$26.46 ₱1,629

-1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$72.1 ₱4,437

15.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$68.2 ₱4,198

3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$270 ₱16.6K

60.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$178 ₱11.0K

33.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$592 ₱36.4K

38.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$402 ₱24.7K

27.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,379 ₱146.5K

-19.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$985 ₱60.7K

48.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$246 ₱15.2K

135.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $270 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 135% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Polomolok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $165 – 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 29% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,001 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $118 in Polomolok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $667 in Polomolok, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Polomolok costs $667 versus $861 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.