Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Las Tablas: $456 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Las Tablas, Panama
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Las Tablas
🇵🇦 Panama
$456
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $456 per month in Las Tablas vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Las Tablas $456
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $678 per month in Las Tablas vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Las Tablas $678
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $901 per month in Las Tablas vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Las Tablas $901
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Las Tablas is about 51% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Las Tablas and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Las Tablas 67% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.89 PAB 9.89
$2.24 ฿75.7
341.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.99 PAB 29.99
$19.00 ฿642
57.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 PAB 8.48
$5.55 ฿188
52.79%
Cappuccino
-
$1.67 ฿56.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 PAB 0.98
$0.64 ฿21.56
53.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 PAB 1.02
$0.31 ฿10.32
229.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$2.36 ฿79.6
-45.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$3.66 ฿124
-25.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.95 ฿65.8
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 PAB 1.90
$1.44 ฿48.51
31.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.33 ฿45.07
-
Eggs
$2.10 PAB 2.10
$2.28 ฿77.1
-7.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.45 ฿556
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$2.78 ฿94.0
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.31 ฿314
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 PAB 4.51
$2.35 ฿79.5
91.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$0.97 ฿32.82
28.87%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.60 ฿53.9
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$1.50 ฿50.7
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.28 ฿43.15
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.10 ฿37.22
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 PAB 1.22
$0.71 ฿23.84
71.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 PAB 0.98
$0.49 ฿16.38
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.14 ฿140
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 PAB 5.72
$17.52 ฿592
-67.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$1.61 ฿54.5
-19.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 PAB 1.73
$2.78 ฿94.0
-37.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 ฿29.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.1 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 PAB 0.98
$1.16 ฿39.08
-15.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.53 ฿17.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PAB 0.92
$1.45 ฿48.93
-36.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K ฿711.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 PAB 147
$62.2 ฿2,100
136.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97 PAB 22.97
$12.17 ฿411
88.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.35 PAB 37.35
$20.12 ฿680
85.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.79 PAB 19.79
$37.31 ฿1,260
-46.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.49 ฿219
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$736 ฿24.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.4 ฿1,802
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.64 ฿832
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.5 ฿3,089
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.9 ฿2,429
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$309 ฿10.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$633 ฿21.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Las Tablas
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
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 Las Tablas: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$309
Groceries & Markets
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$234
Clothing & Footwear
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$78
Getting Around
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Las Tablas
–
Chiang Mai
$50

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Las Tablas versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $103 in Las Tablas vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Las Tablas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Las Tablas
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:05 6:05 AM
18:05 6:05 PM
12 h ahead of Las Tablas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,939
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 PAB (1 PAB = 0.899 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Las Tablas Chiang Mai 17,060 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Las Tablas
  • 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
Las Tablas vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Las Tablas or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Las Tablas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Las Tablas and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $684 per month in Las Tablas and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Las Tablas compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $456 in Las Tablas and $936 in Chiang Mai. That’s a gap of about 105%.
Are groceries more expensive in Las Tablas or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 128% 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 $800/month in Las Tablas or in Chiang Mai?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $456, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Las Tablas or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $456 in Las Tablas to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Las Tablas 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.

Las Tablas vs other spots: cost of living compared

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