😐A single person spends $1,733 per month in Pacov vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,483 per month in Pacov vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,234 per month in Pacov vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Pacov costs about 100% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Pacov sits 29% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.22Kč 192
$1.94฿63.6
375.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.94Kč 916
$18.64฿609
135.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67Kč 264
$7.82฿256
62.02%
Cappuccino
$2.93Kč 61.1
$1.95฿63.9
50.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82Kč 58.8
$0.85฿27.80
231.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Kč 30.05
$0.35฿11.60
311.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36Kč 28.35
$2.13฿69.7
-36.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18Kč 108
$3.73฿122
38.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60Kč 33.29
$1.71฿56.0
-6.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40Kč 29.24
$1.63฿53.3
-14.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.08Kč 64.2
$1.14฿37.18
170.18%
Eggs
$5.45Kč 114
$1.93฿63.2
182.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77Kč 266
$16.21฿530
-21.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.26Kč 193
$3.12฿102
196.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.67Kč 452
$10.90฿356
98.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.44Kč 29.96
$2.75฿90.1
-47.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65Kč 55.3
$1.21฿39.56
119.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75Kč 78.3
$1.62฿53.0
131.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52Kč 73.4
$1.59฿51.9
121.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Kč 26.15
$1.40฿45.75
-10.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08Kč 43.39
$1.17฿38.20
77.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26Kč 26.29
$0.66฿21.62
90.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.92
$0.53฿17.24
52.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84Kč 80.0
$4.69฿153
-18.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.10Kč 148
$18.66฿610
-61.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.82
$1.80฿58.8
-55.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85Kč 38.54
$3.23฿106
-42.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19Kč 24.75
$0.90฿29.28
32.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.01Kč 542
$19.21฿628
35.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26Kč 47.22
$1.41฿45.96
60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79Kč 16.46
$1.29฿42.16
-38.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.56Kč 575
$7.84฿256
251.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Kč 35.10
$1.27฿41.62
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KKč 578.6K
$21.3K฿695.5K
30.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KKč 623.7K
$22.2K฿726.1K
34.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299Kč 6,232
$69.1฿2,258
332.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.60Kč 555
$14.08฿460
88.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61Kč 430
$18.00฿588
14.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$99.4Kč 2,072
$41.06฿1,342
142.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15Kč 358
$6.96฿227
146.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.87Kč 289
$5.92฿193
134.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$412Kč 8,581
$299฿9,775
37.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KKč 211.6K
$15.0K฿488.8K
-32.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119Kč 2,479
$54.7฿1,788
117.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.43Kč 780
$26.77฿875
39.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5Kč 1,971
$85.0฿2,778
11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,358
$70.6฿2,308
60.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665Kč 13.9K
$428฿14.0K
55.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$555Kč 11.6K
$237฿7,759
133.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,173Kč 24.5K
$801฿26.2K
46.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$858Kč 17.9K
$515฿16.9K
66.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,713Kč 98.3K
$1,975฿64.5K
138.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,757Kč 99.2K
$1,475฿48.2K
222.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,150Kč 24.0K
$617฿20.2K
86.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.85
5
57.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pacov: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Pacov 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 86% higher in Pacov, 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 $44.00 in Pacov versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $246 – 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
Pacov vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pacov or Chiang Mai?
Pacov costs about 100% 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 Pacov vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,599 per month in Pacov and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pacov 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 Pacov and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Pacov 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 Pacov or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Pacov, 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 Pacov or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Pacov at $1,733. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pacov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pacov or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,733 in Pacov. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pacov 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 Pacov or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pacov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.