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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,395 per month in Kaลกtela vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,164 per month in Kaลกtela vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,932 per month in Kaลกtela vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kaลกtela costs about 61% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kaลกtela sits 4% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28 โ‚ฌ14.00
$1.94 เธฟ63.5
739.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 โ‚ฌ69.4
$18.64 เธฟ609
332.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 โ‚ฌ8.18
$7.82 เธฟ255
21.61%
Cappuccino
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.42
$1.95 เธฟ63.8
44.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 โ‚ฌ3.06
$0.85 เธฟ27.77
318.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 โ‚ฌ2.27
$0.35 เธฟ11.58
654.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 โ‚ฌ3.96
$2.13 เธฟ69.6
115.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 โ‚ฌ3.22
$3.73 เธฟ122
0.27%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.19
$1.71 เธฟ56.0
-19.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.33
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
-4.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 โ‚ฌ2.61
$1.14 เธฟ37.15
165.79%
Eggs
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.27
$1.93 เธฟ63.1
97.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.59 โ‚ฌ8.25
$16.21 เธฟ530
-40.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.76 โ‚ฌ8.40
$3.12 เธฟ102
212.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 โ‚ฌ10.80
$10.90 เธฟ356
15.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.46
$2.75 เธฟ90.0
-38.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 โ‚ฌ1.42
$1.21 เธฟ39.52
36.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.82
$1.62 เธฟ53.0
30.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
48.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.30
$1.40 เธฟ45.70
7.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 โ‚ฌ1.25
$1.17 เธฟ38.17
23.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 โ‚ฌ1.22
$0.66 เธฟ21.60
115.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 โ‚ฌ1.08
$0.53 เธฟ17.22
137.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74 โ‚ฌ4.94
$4.69 เธฟ153
22.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.34 โ‚ฌ6.31
$18.66 เธฟ609
-60.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.18
$1.80 เธฟ58.8
-23.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.01
$3.23 เธฟ106
-63.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 โ‚ฌ2.00
$0.90 เธฟ29.26
158.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.76 โ‚ฌ32.48
$19.21 เธฟ628
96.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 โ‚ฌ2.96
$1.41 เธฟ45.91
143.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 โ‚ฌ1.76
$1.29 เธฟ42.12
58.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.29 โ‚ฌ7.99
$7.84 เธฟ256
18.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.47
$1.27 เธฟ41.58
33.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K โ‚ฌ33.1K
$21.3K เธฟ694.9K
80.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.9K
$22.2K เธฟ725.4K
19.84%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 โ‚ฌ158
$69.1 เธฟ2,256
165.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.06 โ‚ฌ20.69
$14.08 เธฟ460
70.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.56 โ‚ฌ21.99
$18.00 เธฟ588
42.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.6 โ‚ฌ50.4
$41.06 เธฟ1,341
42.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.59 โ‚ฌ12.55
$6.96 เธฟ227
109.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29 โ‚ฌ7.99
$5.92 เธฟ193
56.93%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 โ‚ฌ161
$299 เธฟ9,766
-37.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,402 โ‚ฌ1,206
$15.0K เธฟ488.3K
-90.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5 โ‚ฌ71.8
$54.7 เธฟ1,787
52.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.96 โ‚ฌ24.05
$26.77 เธฟ874
4.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 โ‚ฌ92.2
$85.0 เธฟ2,776
26.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 โ‚ฌ89.4
$70.6 เธฟ2,306
47.22%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 โ‚ฌ414
$428 เธฟ14.0K
12.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 โ‚ฌ298
$237 เธฟ7,752
45.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 โ‚ฌ532
$801 เธฟ26.2K
-22.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 โ‚ฌ476
$515 เธฟ16.8K
7.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,420 โ‚ฌ2,942
$1,975 เธฟ64.5K
73.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,463 โ‚ฌ2,118
$1,475 เธฟ48.2K
66.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$926 โ‚ฌ797
$617 เธฟ20.2K
49.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
5
-13.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaลกtela: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Kaลกtela 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.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Kaลกtela, 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 $81.0 in Kaลกtela versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $246 โ€“ 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
Kaลกtela vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kaลกtela or Chiang Mai?
Kaลกtela costs about 61% 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 Kaลกtela vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,093 per month in Kaลกtela and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kaลกtela 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 Kaลกtela and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $187 per month in Kaลกtela 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 Kaลกtela or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Kaลกtela, 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 Kaลกtela or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Kaลกtela at $1,395. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kaลกtela it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kaลกtela or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,395 in Kaลกtela. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kaลกtela 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 โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kaลกtela or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kaลกtela makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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