😐A single person spends $1,106 per month in Kamez vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,696 per month in Kamez vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,287 per month in Kamez vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Kamez costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kamez and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kamez20% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.95ALL 786
$2.10฿69.3
373.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.04ALL 3,162
$19.84฿656
101.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75ALL 612
$5.79฿191
33.85%
Cappuccino
$2.07ALL 163
$1.83฿60.4
13.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97ALL 156
$0.78฿25.61
152.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70ALL 55.1
$0.31฿10.37
125.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48ALL 196
$2.34฿77.2
5.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45ALL 272
$3.70฿122
-6.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97ALL 156
$2.03฿67.1
-2.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00ALL 79.3
$1.60฿52.7
-37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08ALL 164
$1.42฿46.75
46.48%
Eggs
$2.67ALL 211
$2.18฿71.9
22.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42ALL 823
$15.91฿526
-34.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.65ALL 684
$3.07฿102
181.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.74ALL 1,164
$9.87฿326
49.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99ALL 157
$2.63฿86.8
-24.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34ALL 185
$1.10฿36.19
112.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75ALL 138
$1.63฿53.8
7.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69ALL 133
$1.53฿50.6
10.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08ALL 85.0
$1.24฿41.13
-12.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32ALL 105
$1.13฿37.37
16.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21ALL 96.0
$0.74฿24.38
63.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76ALL 59.7
$0.50฿16.48
52.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28ALL 338
$4.28฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21ALL 806
$17.97฿594
-43.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80ALL 142
$1.70฿56.1
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93ALL 153
$2.90฿95.7
-33.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ALL 38.12
$0.94฿31.13
-48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.06ALL 1,585
$55.3฿1,827
-63.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.80ALL 300
$1.23฿40.76
208.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.85ALL 304
$0.53฿17.66
626.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.95ALL 1,497
$2.40฿79.3
689.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24ALL 177
$1.44฿47.55
55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KALL 2.8M
$21.2K฿700.2K
66.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KALL 2.0M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-7.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7ALL 5,032
$64.9฿2,145
-1.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.32ALL 1,289
$13.35฿441
22.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49ALL 1,382
$20.83฿688
-16.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8ALL 4,562
$40.42฿1,336
42.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.56ALL 676
$6.71฿222
27.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$100ALL 7,912
$787฿26.0K
-87.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,275ALL 653.5K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-45.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0ALL 4,024
$56.2฿1,858
-9.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.57ALL 3,757
$24.95฿824
90.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2ALL 7,838
$92.7฿3,063
7.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115ALL 9,054
$75.1฿2,482
52.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$493ALL 38.9K
$484฿16.0K
1.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALL 26.7K
$287฿9,491
17.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$722ALL 57.0K
$910฿30.1K
-20.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$484ALL 38.2K
$531฿17.5K
-8.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,910ALL 150.8K
$1,980฿65.4K
-3.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,280ALL 101.1K
$1,451฿47.9K
-11.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kamez: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $493 in Kamez versus $484 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 $40.00 in Kamez versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $242 – 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
Kamez vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kamez or Chiang Mai?
Kamez costs about 16% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kamez and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,659 per month in Kamez and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kamez 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 childcare costs compare in Kamez and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $100 per month in Kamez and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kamez or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Kamez, 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 Kamez or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Kamez at $1,106. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kamez it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kamez or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,106 in Kamez. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kamez 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 Kamez or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kamez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.