Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pyeongtaek

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,452 in Pyeongtaek, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
70

Cost of Living Index in Pyeongtaek
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Pyeongtaek Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Pyeongtaek

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,452

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Pyeongtaek

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Pyeongtaek actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,452 in Pyeongtaek, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Pyeongtaek $1,452

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,876 in Pyeongtaek, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Pyeongtaek $2,876

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,300 in Pyeongtaek, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Pyeongtaek $4,300

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Pyeongtaek, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Pyeongtaek is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$7.49 ₩9,993

-70.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$22.56 ₩30.1K

-15.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$4.83 ₩6,442

14.91%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.62 ₩4,834

-53.87%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$1.28 ₩1,716

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.88 ₩1,175

-64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$3.68 ₩4,907

-35.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$4.36 ₩5,816

-16.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$2.29 ₩3,061

-14.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$3.29 ₩4,398

-56.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$3.18 ₩4,249

-58.18%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.62 ₩3,500

-12.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$11.32 ₩15.1K

45.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$10.41 ₩13.9K

-73.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$25.15 ₩33.6K

-62.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$11.18 ₩14.9K

-78.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$3.72 ₩4,965

-73.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$8.24 ₩11.0K

-80.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$6.09 ₩8,129

-75.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

$6.03 ₩8,049

-78.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$3.27 ₩4,370

-66.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$2.75 ₩3,669

-74.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$1.36 ₩1,814

-63.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.47 ₩4,636

19.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$19.22 ₩25.7K

-8.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$2.50 ₩3,342

-35.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$3.41 ₩4,559

-18.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$1.26 ₩1,683

-30.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$46.32 ₩61.8K

16.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

$3.64 ₩4,861

-68.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.59 ₩793

-10.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$9.26 ₩12.4K

-73.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$1.42 ₩1,891

2.11%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

$15.1K ₩20.2M

39.24%

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

$15.3K ₩20.5M

75.64%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$201 ₩268.8K

-69.12%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$17.22 ₩23.0K

-29.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$27.39 ₩36.6K

-26.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$11.92 ₩15.9K

-45.55%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$634 ₩846.4K

16.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

$21.7K ₩29.0M

-31.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$107 ₩143.1K

-50.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$64.8 ₩86.5K

-61.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$96.1 ₩128.2K

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$130 ₩173.0K

-44.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$524 ₩699.5K

-7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$300 ₩401.1K

2.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$1,905 ₩2.5M

-47.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$1,905 ₩2.5M

-66.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,912 ₩2.6M

-69.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.22

31.99%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Pyeongtaek: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Pyeongtaek

$300 20.7% 2.7% $8.5

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Pyeongtaek

$492 33.9% 110% $257

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Pyeongtaek

$179 12.3% 64.7% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Pyeongtaek

$246 16.9% 160% $151

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Pyeongtaek

$154 10.6% 97.9% $76

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Pyeongtaek

$58 4% 5.5% $3.4

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Pyeongtaek

$24 * 1.6% 52.6% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $524 in Pyeongtaek. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Pyeongtaek are about 3.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $23 in Pyeongtaek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $492 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇷 Pyeongtaek

🕒 Local time

00:03 12:03 AM

02:03 2:03 AM

2 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

489,081

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

South Korean Won KRW ₩

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

10,000 KRW = 7.49 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.71 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1,335 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.49 USD). 1 EUR = 1,491 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.71 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Pyeongtaek 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Pyeongtaek

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pyeongtaek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pyeongtaek costs about 55% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,179 in Pyeongtaek. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $524 in Pyeongtaek. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $634 in Pyeongtaek. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 110% more in Pyeongtaek, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,452 in Pyeongtaek. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,452 in Pyeongtaek. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pyeongtaek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.