😐A single person spends $1,727 per month in Pacov vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Pacov vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,214 per month in Pacov vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Pacov costs about 101% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Pacov sits 29% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.11Kč 193
$1.96฿65.8
364.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.14Kč 956
$18.35฿617
145.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.57Kč 266
$7.48฿252
68.05%
Cappuccino
$2.91Kč 61.6
$2.02฿67.8
44.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Kč 60.8
$0.85฿28.50
237.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Kč 30.51
$0.36฿11.96
300.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37Kč 28.98
$2.14฿71.8
-35.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12Kč 108
$3.59฿121
42.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60Kč 33.97
$1.65฿55.5
-3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43Kč 30.24
$1.57฿52.7
-8.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21Kč 67.9
$1.19฿40.02
169.75%
Eggs
$5.51Kč 117
$1.94฿65.1
184.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47Kč 264
$16.19฿544
-22.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.28Kč 197
$2.99฿101
210.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.76Kč 461
$10.94฿368
98.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42Kč 30.07
$2.71฿91.2
-47.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74Kč 58.1
$1.17฿39.25
134.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83Kč 81.3
$1.69฿56.7
126.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52Kč 74.7
$1.60฿54.0
120.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.70
$1.38฿46.54
-5.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12Kč 44.82
$1.20฿40.45
76.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26Kč 26.69
$0.67฿22.50
88.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75Kč 15.94
$0.56฿18.73
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82Kč 80.9
$4.64฿156
-17.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13Kč 151
$17.62฿593
-59.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 17.10
$1.86฿62.5
-56.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95Kč 41.25
$3.30฿111
-40.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18Kč 25.02
$0.88฿29.68
34.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.00Kč 551
$19.34฿650
34.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38Kč 50.4
$1.36฿45.90
75.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80Kč 16.97
$1.34฿44.98
-40.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.57Kč 584
$8.21฿276
235.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75Kč 37.17
$1.22฿41.18
43.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KKč 604.9K
$21.4K฿718.1K
33.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KKč 635.4K
$22.5K฿757.7K
33.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$295Kč 6,246
$70.7฿2,376
317.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92Kč 570
$14.04฿472
91.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.08Kč 447
$17.49฿588
20.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.0Kč 2,076
$42.15฿1,417
132.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66Kč 353
$6.88฿231
142.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.68Kč 290
$5.92฿199
131.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$418Kč 8,849
$309฿10.4K
35.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KKč 215.7K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-31.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117Kč 2,486
$55.8฿1,875
110.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.23Kč 789
$26.11฿878
42.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2Kč 2,017
$83.0฿2,792
14.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,399
$70.5฿2,369
60.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$690Kč 14.6K
$432฿14.5K
59.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551Kč 11.7K
$239฿8,035
130.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180Kč 25.0K
$822฿27.7K
43.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859Kč 18.2K
$512฿17.2K
67.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,808Kč 101.9K
$1,915฿64.4K
151.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,723Kč 100.1K
$1,467฿49.3K
221.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pacov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,163Kč 24.6K
$579฿19.5K
100.67%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $690 in Pacov versus $432 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 101% 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 $45.00 in Pacov versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $243 – 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 101% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,591 per month in Pacov and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $418 per month in Pacov and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Pacov at $1,727. 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 $861 versus $1,727 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 to 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.