Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampot and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Kampot: $483 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kampot
🇰🇭 Cambodia
$483
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $483 per month in Kampot vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kampot $483
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $753 per month in Kampot vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kampot $753
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,022 per month in Kampot vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kampot $1,022
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Kampot is about 49% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Kampot and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kampot 64% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 ៛12.1K
$2.26 ฿75.4
31.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.94 ៛81.0K
$19.18 ฿641
3.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ៛21.9K
$5.59 ฿187
-3.40%
Cappuccino
$1.80 ៛7,293
$1.72 ฿57.6
4.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ៛4,128
$0.64 ฿21.54
59.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ៛3,390
$0.33 ฿11.18
151.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ៛5,753
$2.36 ฿78.7
-39.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ៛8,064
$3.90 ฿130
-48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.35 ៛9,554
$2.05 ฿68.6
14.63%
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.40 ฿46.70
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.28 ฿42.89
-
Eggs
$1.79 ៛7,276
$2.25 ฿75.3
-20.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.94 ฿566
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$2.74 ฿91.6
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 ៛70.5K
$9.36 ฿313
85.26%
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.40 ฿80.3
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ៛4,340
$1.01 ฿33.92
5.94%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.61 ฿53.9
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.52 ฿50.7
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 ៛4,777
$1.28 ฿42.90
-7.81%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.11 ฿37.22
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.72 ฿24.09
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ៛3,132
$0.52 ฿17.54
48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.33 ฿145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 ៛60.8K
$17.73 ฿593
-15.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ៛4,638
$1.63 ฿54.4
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.85 ฿95.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 ៛8,181
$0.85 ฿28.31
136.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.9 ฿1,801
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 ៛8,172
$1.17 ฿39.18
71.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 ៛5,078
$0.57 ฿19.00
119.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.37 ฿79.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ៛5,499
$1.45 ฿48.32
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.5K ฿684.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.8 ៛226.6K
$62.3 ฿2,083
-10.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.03 ៛28.5K
$12.27 ฿410
-42.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.16 ៛85.9K
$19.97 ฿668
5.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.91 ฿1,267
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.76 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.71 ฿224
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$797 ฿26.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$25.05 ฿837
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.6 ฿3,062
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$73.5 ฿2,455
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 ៛867.3K
$464 ฿15.5K
-53.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$165 ៛671.9K
$305 ฿10.2K
-45.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$396 ៛1.6M
$915 ฿30.6K
-56.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ៛1.3M
$552 ฿18.5K
-40.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampot
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$148 ៛599.2K
$595 ฿19.9K
-75.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Kampot: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$305
Groceries & Markets
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$238
Clothing & Footwear
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$95
Eating Out
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$79
Getting Around
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Kampot
–
Chiang Mai
$51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $214 in Kampot versus $464 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.

Salaries run about 303% 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 $20.00 in Kampot versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Kampot vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Kampot wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇭 Kampot
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:49 3:49 PM
15:49 3:49 PM
Same time as Kampot
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
39,186
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to KHR – Cambodian Riel Converter

Cambodian Riel exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4,062 KHR (10,000 KHR = 2.46 USD). 1 EUR = 4,567 KHR (10,000 KHR = 2.19 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kampot Chiang Mai 1,070 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kampot
  • Chiang Mai

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
Kampot vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kampot or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Kampot, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 Kampot and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $725 per month in Kampot and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kampot or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kampot, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kampot compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $483 in Kampot and $938 in Chiang Mai. That's a gap of about 94%.
Are groceries more expensive in Kampot or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 73% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kampot or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kampot, where all-in costs run around $483, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Kampot it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kampot or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kampot costs $483 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kampot 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 Kampot or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kampot. 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.

Kampot vs other spots: cost of living compared

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