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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $929 per month in Kalasin vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,520 per month in Kalasin vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,110 per month in Kalasin vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kalasin costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kalasin and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalasin 31% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.99 ฿168
$2.13 ฿71.7
134.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.70 ฿763
$19.40 ฿652
17.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.34 ฿146
$5.47 ฿184
-20.66%
Cappuccino
$2.07 ฿69.4
$1.68 ฿56.7
23.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ฿20.63
$0.66 ฿22.19
-7.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.89
$0.34 ฿11.56
-5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿71.5
$2.42 ฿81.3
-11.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ฿85.4
$3.73 ฿126
-31.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ฿59.2
$2.06 ฿69.2
-14.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.30
$1.46 ฿48.98
-1.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.0
$1.35 ฿45.27
10.37%
Eggs
$2.39 ฿80.5
$2.27 ฿76.3
5.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿555
$16.31 ฿548
1.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.4
$2.70 ฿90.7
-11.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 ฿353
$9.20 ฿309
14.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ฿112
$2.39 ฿80.5
39.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ฿35.82
$1.04 ฿34.80
2.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.42 ฿81.4
$1.60 ฿53.9
51.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 ฿58.9
$1.44 ฿48.57
21.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.30 ฿43.77
15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.31
$1.11 ฿37.45
5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ฿31.18
$0.70 ฿23.65
32.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.69
$0.51 ฿17.06
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 ฿142
$4.13 ฿139
2.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 ฿541
$17.78 ฿598
-9.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.8
$1.63 ฿54.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ฿89.5
$2.87 ฿96.4
-7.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 ฿28.11
$0.86 ฿28.88
-2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.2 ฿1,787
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 ฿44.96
$1.22 ฿40.99
9.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 ฿41.60
$0.56 ฿18.89
121.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.50 ฿151
$2.31 ฿77.8
94.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ฿46.90
$1.50 ฿50.4
-6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ฿939.1K
$20.9K ฿701.2K
33.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿897.5K
$26.7K ฿898.8K
-0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 ฿2,824
$61.3 ฿2,059
37.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70 ฿360
$12.50 ฿420
-14.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.84 ฿633
$20.36 ฿685
-7.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.38 ฿1,459
$37.94 ฿1,275
14.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.55 ฿523
$3.77 ฿127
312.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.84 ฿230
$6.60 ฿222
3.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$632 ฿21.2K
$774 ฿26.0K
-18.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K ฿340.3K
$14.4K ฿485.3K
-29.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 ฿1,922
$54.8 ฿1,842
4.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.21 ฿1,083
$25.26 ฿849
27.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.1 ฿2,222
$90.6 ฿3,045
-27.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4 ฿2,871
$73.3 ฿2,463
16.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$454 ฿15.2K
$459 ฿15.4K
-1.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 ฿10.2K
$294 ฿9,877
2.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,468 ฿49.3K
$919 ฿30.9K
59.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$734 ฿24.7K
$552 ฿18.6K
33.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,068 ฿69.5K
$1,917 ฿64.5K
7.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ฿48.5K
$1,445 ฿48.6K
-0.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalasin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$592 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

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

Last update for Kalasin: October 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $454 in Kalasin versus $459 in Chiang Mai. 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 $23.00 in Kalasin versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $236 – making Chiang Mai 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
Kalasin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalasin or Chiang Mai?
Kalasin costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalasin and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,393 per month in Kalasin and $1,359 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalasin or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Kalasin and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Kalasin and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kalasin or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Kalasin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalasin or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Kalasin at $929. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalasin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalasin or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $906 versus $929 in Kalasin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kalasin compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Kalasin or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalasin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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