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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Pomorie, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,493 in Pomorie, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,042 in Pomorie, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Pomorie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Pomorie are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Pomorie 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.9

$11.63 BGN 19.35

-83.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿613

$41.52 BGN 69.1

-55.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿257

$8.77 BGN 14.58

-10.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.2

$1.90 BGN 3.16

2.63%

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

$0.85 ฿27.95

$1.34 BGN 2.23

-36.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.66

$1.04 BGN 1.73

-66.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿70.1

$2.08 BGN 3.47

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$2.99 BGN 4.97

24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.3

$2.02 BGN 3.35

-15.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$0.89 BGN 1.48

83.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.39

$1.91 BGN 3.17

-40.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.5

$3.31 BGN 5.51

-41.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿533

$10.68 BGN 17.76

51.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿103

$8.19 BGN 13.63

-61.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿358

$11.37 BGN 18.92

-4.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.6

$1.63 BGN 2.71

68.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.78

$2.13 BGN 3.55

-43.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.3

$2.07 BGN 3.45

-21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.2

$2.43 BGN 4.05

-34.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.00

$1.19 BGN 1.99

17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.41

$1.37 BGN 2.28

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.74

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-44.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.33

$0.73 BGN 1.22

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$3.59 BGN 5.97

30.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿613

$5.44 BGN 9.06

243.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.2

$0.96 BGN 1.60

87.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.61 BGN 2.68

100.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.92 BGN 1.54

-2.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿632

$26.49 BGN 44.07

-27.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.21

$1.20 BGN 1.99

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.39

$0.72 BGN 1.20

79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$11.60 BGN 19.30

-32.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.85

$1.56 BGN 2.59

-18.59%

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

$21.3K ฿699.4K

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

-34.50%

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

$22.2K ฿730.1K

$25.2K BGN 42.0K

-11.98%

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

$69.1 ฿2,270

$93.5 BGN 156

-26.13%

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

$14.08 ฿463

$17.48 BGN 29.08

-19.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿592

$13.67 BGN 22.74

31.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,350

$29.18 BGN 48.55

40.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$14.73 BGN 24.50

-52.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$6.96 BGN 11.57

-14.94%

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

$299 ฿9,829

$240 BGN 399

24.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿491.5K

$4,079 BGN 6,787

266.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,798

$45.02 BGN 74.9

21.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿880

$29.38 BGN 48.88

-8.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,793

$82.5 BGN 137

2.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,320

$72.9 BGN 121

-3.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.1K

$419 BGN 696

2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,801

$229 BGN 381

3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$470 BGN 782

70.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$351 BGN 583

47.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.9K

$1,846 BGN 3,071

6.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.5K

$1,087 BGN 1,808

35.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pomorie: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $419 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 – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $237 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 9% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,415 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $240 in Pomorie. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% 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 $866, than in Pomorie at $943. 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 $866 versus $943 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.