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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $246 in Pyongyang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $393 in Pyongyang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $541 in Pyongyang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 247% more than Pyongyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pyongyang are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Pyongyang 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.96 $22.96

-18.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.19 $1.19

60.50%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.35 $2.35

-64.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.17 $1.17

-70.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$14.06 $14.06

-84.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.41 $3.41

11.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.00 $1.00

64.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$2.41 $2.41

-32.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.91 $0.91

29.67%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.05 $2.05

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$90.9 $90.9

365.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$93.0 $93.0

156.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$140 $140

267.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$260 $260

144.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pyongyang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $90.9 in Pyongyang. 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 144% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Pyongyang. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $46.00 in Pyongyang – so Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 247% more than Pyongyang, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $368 in Pyongyang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $246 in Pyongyang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 429% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $246 in Pyongyang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pyongyang costs $246 versus $852 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 Pyongyang. 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.