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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,103 per month in Kamez vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,653 per month in Kamez vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,204 per month in Kamez vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kamez costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kamez and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kamez 18% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.53 ALL 780
$1.94 ฿63.5
391.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.98 ALL 3,025
$18.64 ฿609
98.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 ALL 573
$7.82 ฿255
-10.36%
Cappuccino
$1.87 ALL 153
$1.95 ฿63.8
-4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ALL 135
$0.85 ฿27.77
94.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ALL 69.7
$0.35 ฿11.58
142.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ALL 196
$2.13 ฿69.6
12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ALL 269
$3.73 ฿122
-11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ALL 161
$1.71 ฿56.0
14.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 ALL 74.3
$1.63 ฿53.2
-44.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 ALL 158
$1.14 ฿37.15
69.30%
Eggs
$2.91 ALL 238
$1.93 ฿63.1
50.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 ALL 829
$16.21 ฿530
-37.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 ALL 647
$3.12 ฿102
153.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 ALL 1,065
$10.90 ฿356
19.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 ALL 141
$2.75 ฿90.0
-37.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 ALL 198
$1.21 ฿39.52
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 ALL 143
$1.62 ฿53.0
8.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 ALL 110
$1.59 ฿51.8
-15.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 ALL 86.1
$1.40 ฿45.70
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 ALL 100
$1.17 ฿38.17
5.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ALL 93.2
$0.66 ฿21.60
72.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ALL 63.9
$0.53 ฿17.22
47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09 ALL 335
$4.69 ฿153
-12.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.89 ALL 809
$18.66 ฿609
-47.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ALL 135
$1.80 ฿58.8
-8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ALL 148
$3.23 ฿106
-43.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 ALL 40.01
$0.90 ฿29.26
-45.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.07 ALL 1,560
$19.21 ฿628
-0.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 ALL 280
$1.41 ฿45.91
142.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 ALL 251
$1.29 ฿42.12
137.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.46 ALL 1,429
$7.84 ฿256
122.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 ALL 170
$1.27 ฿41.58
63.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K ALL 2.9M
$21.3K ฿694.9K
65.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K ALL 2.1M
$22.2K ฿725.4K
14.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.8 ALL 5,549
$69.1 ฿2,256
-1.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.34 ALL 1,419
$14.08 ฿460
23.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79 ALL 1,292
$18.00 ฿588
-12.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 ALL 4,511
$41.06 ฿1,341
34.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.66 ALL 2,100
$6.96 ฿227
268.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.01 ALL 655
$5.92 ฿193
35.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 ALL 13.1K
$299 ฿9,766
-46.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,566 ALL 455.4K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-62.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.26 ALL 3,785
$54.7 ฿1,787
-15.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.42 ALL 4,043
$26.77 ฿874
84.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 ALL 7,781
$85.0 ฿2,776
11.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 ALL 10.4K
$70.6 ฿2,306
79.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$456 ALL 37.3K
$428 ฿14.0K
6.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 ALL 27.6K
$237 ฿7,752
42.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 ALL 49.3K
$801 ฿26.2K
-24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 ALL 35.1K
$515 ฿16.8K
-16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,069 ALL 169.2K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
4.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,158 ALL 94.8K
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-21.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kamez
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%

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

Last update for Kamez: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Kamez versus $428 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 $37.00 in Kamez versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Kamez vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Kamez 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
Kamez vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kamez or Chiang Mai?
Kamez costs about 27% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,654 per month in Kamez and $1,300 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $160 per month in Kamez and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Kamez – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kamez or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Kamez at $1,103. 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 $866 versus $1,103 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 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.

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