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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $745 per month in Khemisset vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,164 per month in Khemisset vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,583 per month in Khemisset vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Khemisset is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Khemisset and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Khemisset 46% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.59 MAD 14.91

$2.10 ฿69.3

-24.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.45 MAD 352

$19.84 ฿656

88.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 MAD 69.1

$5.79 ฿191

27.12%

Cappuccino

$0.84 MAD 7.91

$1.83 ฿60.4

-54.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MAD 7.62

$0.78 ฿25.61

3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MAD 2.17

$0.31 ฿10.37

-25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.27 MAD 58.9

$2.34 ฿77.2

167.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.31 MAD 49.86

$3.70 ฿122

43.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.46

$2.03 ฿67.1

-55.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 MAD 4.36

$1.60 ฿52.7

-71.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 MAD 13.27

$1.42 ฿46.75

-0.70%

Eggs

$1.89 MAD 17.75

$2.18 ฿71.9

-13.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 MAD 99.7

$15.91 ฿526

-33.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 MAD 67.0

$3.07 ฿102

132.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 MAD 78.8

$9.87 ฿326

-14.99%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 MAD 8.90

$2.63 ฿86.8

-63.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MAD 10.75

$1.10 ฿36.19

3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 MAD 7.22

$1.63 ฿53.8

-52.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.42 MAD 3.90

$1.53 ฿50.6

-72.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.24

$1.24 ฿41.13

-46.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.24

$1.13 ฿37.37

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 MAD 4.47

$0.74 ฿24.38

-35.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MAD 5.78

$0.50 ฿16.48

24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MAD 40.79

$4.28 ฿141

1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 MAD 89.5

$17.97 ฿594

-47.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 MAD 36.30

$1.70 ฿56.1

127.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 MAD 38.23

$2.90 ฿95.7

40.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MAD 5.22

$0.94 ฿31.13

-40.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 MAD 182

$55.3 ฿1,827

-65.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MAD 6.82

$1.23 ฿40.76

-40.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 MAD 8.31

$0.53 ฿17.66

66.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 MAD 93.7

$2.40 ฿79.3

315.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MAD 14.59

$1.44 ฿47.55

7.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.4K MAD 332.4K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

66.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K MAD 285.7K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

11.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$36.71 MAD 345

$64.9 ฿2,145

-43.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.58 MAD 61.8

$13.35 ฿441

-50.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.34 MAD 379

$20.83 ฿688

93.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.40 MAD 126

$40.42 ฿1,336

-66.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.53 MAD 202

$3.95 ฿131

445.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 MAD 71.2

$6.71 ฿222

12.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$97.0 MAD 912

$787 ฿26.0K

-87.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,417 MAD 60.3K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-57.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.07 MAD 348

$56.2 ฿1,858

-34.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 MAD 477

$24.95 ฿824

103.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MAD 951

$92.7 ฿3,063

9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 MAD 1,007

$75.1 ฿2,482

42.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 MAD 2,580

$484 ฿16.0K

-43.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 MAD 1,662

$287 ฿9,491

-38.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 MAD 4,477

$910 ฿30.1K

-47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 MAD 2,645

$531 ฿17.5K

-46.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,256 MAD 11.8K

$1,980 ฿65.4K

-36.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$870 MAD 8,173

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-40.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$400 MAD 3,758

$605 ฿20.0K

-33.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.67

5.57

-34.11%

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

Last update for Khemisset: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Khemisset 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.

Salaries run about 51% 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 $37.00 in Khemisset versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Khemisset vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Khemisset 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

Khemisset vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Khemisset, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,117 per month in Khemisset and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Khemisset, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $97.0 per month in Khemisset and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Khemisset, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Khemisset it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khemisset costs $745 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Khemisset. 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.