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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Pomorie, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,466 in Pomorie, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,987 in Pomorie, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Pomorie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Pomorie are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Pomorie 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$11.92 BGN 19.84

-82.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿630

$42.02 BGN 69.9

-55.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$8.59 BGN 14.29

-8.73%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.9

$1.89 BGN 3.15

2.12%

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

$0.83 ฿28.00

$1.31 BGN 2.18

-36.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.80

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-66.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$2.02 BGN 3.37

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$2.88 BGN 4.78

31.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$0.97 BGN 1.61

59.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.79

$1.94 BGN 3.24

-39.18%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$3.35 BGN 5.57

-40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿544

$10.45 BGN 17.38

54.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$8.00 BGN 13.32

-62.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$11.33 BGN 18.84

-4.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$1.57 BGN 2.62

70.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.14

$2.10 BGN 3.50

-41.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$2.01 BGN 3.35

-18.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$2.43 BGN 4.04

-37.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.10

$1.16 BGN 1.94

15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.86

$1.33 BGN 2.20

-9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.63

$1.15 BGN 1.91

-39.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.70

$0.78 BGN 1.30

-32.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$3.64 BGN 6.05

28.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$5.32 BGN 8.86

232.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$1.01 BGN 1.68

83.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.61 BGN 2.69

99.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.01

$0.87 BGN 1.45

2.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$26.18 BGN 43.56

-28.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.40

$1.19 BGN 1.98

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.52

$0.71 BGN 1.18

81.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$11.88 BGN 19.77

-34.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$1.50 BGN 2.49

-14.00%

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

$21.8K ฿733.4K

$32.7K BGN 54.4K

-33.43%

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

$21.7K ฿730.7K

$26.0K BGN 43.2K

-16.48%

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

$70.0 ฿2,358

$94.4 BGN 157

-25.90%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$17.16 BGN 28.54

-17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$14.07 BGN 23.41

23.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,403

$29.15 BGN 48.49

42.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

$15.01 BGN 24.97

-54.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$7.13 BGN 11.86

-18.93%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$237 BGN 394

26.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.2K

$4,143 BGN 6,893

250.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,865

$44.68 BGN 74.3

23.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿886

$29.71 BGN 49.43

-11.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,858

$81.1 BGN 135

4.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$72.5 BGN 121

-2.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$418 BGN 695

1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,919

$232 BGN 386

1.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$465 BGN 774

72.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$351 BGN 584

46.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$1,845 BGN 3,070

4.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$1,102 BGN 1,834

31.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.57

9.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Pomorie: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $418 in Pomorie. 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 $42.00 in Pomorie. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Pomorie – so Pomorie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pomorie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pomorie costs about 12% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,418 in Pomorie. 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $237 in Pomorie. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Pomorie – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Pomorie at $945. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pomorie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $945 in Pomorie. 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, Pomorie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.