Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between North Korea and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $836 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $840 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
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North Korea Living Index41Cost of Living Index in North KoreaLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: North Korea is 24.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: North Korea is 20.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 $2.75
$2.13 ฿71.4
29.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.54 $22.54
$19.40 ฿649
16.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.33 $19.33
$5.47 ฿183
253.38%
Cappuccino
$1.09 $1.09
$1.68 ฿56.4
-35.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.66 ฿22.10
240.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.34 ฿11.52
276.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.50 $13.50
$2.42 ฿81.0
457.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.73 ฿125
-7.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$2.06 ฿68.9
-56.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.46 ฿48.78
72.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.35 ฿45.09
15.56%
Eggs
$2.89 $2.89
$2.27 ฿76.0
27.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$16.31 ฿546
-69.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.70 ฿90.3
42.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.50 $5.50
$9.20 ฿308
-40.22%
Apples (1kg)
$6.12 $6.12
$2.39 ฿80.1
156.07%
Banana (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$1.04 ฿34.66
393.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.60 ฿53.7
42.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.44 ฿48.37
51.39%
Potato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$1.30 ฿43.59
248.46%
Onion (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$1.11 ฿37.29
308.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.70 ฿23.55
222.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.51 ฿16.99
-9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.13 ฿138
9.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$17.78 ฿595
-55.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.63 ฿54.7
-29.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.87 ฿96.0
-24.04%
🚌 Getting Around
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.86 ฿28.76
16.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.72 $38.72
$53.2 ฿1,780
-27.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.22 ฿40.81
24.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.56 ฿18.81
301.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.80 $39.80
$2.31 ฿77.5
1622.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.50 ฿50.2
-52.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K $22.2K
$20.9K ฿698.3K
6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$26.7K ฿895.0K
4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.64 $33.64
$61.3 ฿2,051
-45.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.23 $11.23
$12.50 ฿419
-10.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.44 $45.44
$20.36 ฿682
123.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.4 $59.4
$37.94 ฿1,270
56.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.41 $14.41
$3.77 ฿126
282.23%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 $7.78
$6.60 ฿221
17.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 $106
$774 ฿25.9K
-86.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,149 $2,149
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-85.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.12 $22.12
$54.8 ฿1,835
-59.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.19 $28.19
$25.26 ฿846
11.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.9 $62.9
$90.6 ฿3,032
-30.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7 $84.7
$73.3 ฿2,453
15.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.2 $97.2
$459 ฿15.4K
-78.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$104 $104
$294 ฿9,835
-64.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,399 $1,399
$919 ฿30.8K
52.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 $208
$552 ฿18.5K
-62.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,684 $1,684
$1,917 ฿64.2K
-12.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,392 $1,392
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-3.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$232 $232
$592 ฿19.8K
-60.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.11
5.57
27.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for North Korea: October 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
North Korea $247 29.4%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 4.5% $11
Eating Out
North Korea $182 21.6%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 57.5% $104
Accommodation & Living
North Korea $104 12.3%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 183% $190
Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Korea $90 10.7%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 4.2% $3.8
Clothing & Footwear
North Korea $89 10.6%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 23.2% $21
Sport & Entertainment
North Korea $75 8.9%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 31.8% $24
Getting Around
North Korea $56 6.6%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 9.2% $5.1
Groceries & Markets
North Korea $588 32.6%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 10% $59
Eating Out
North Korea $428 23.8%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 43.1% $185
Accommodation & Living
North Korea $208 11.6%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 165% $344
Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Korea $102 5.6%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 5% $5.1
Clothing & Footwear
North Korea $198 11%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 23.2% $46
Sport & Entertainment
North Korea $164 9.1%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 35.5% $58
Getting Around
North Korea $113 6.3%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 8.8% $10
Good to know
🇰🇵 North Korea
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
26,418,204
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- North Korea Chiang Mai 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- North Korea
- 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
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