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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $795 per month in Pago Pago vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,371 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pago Pago is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pago Pago and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pago Pago 41% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.95 $24.95

$1.94 ฿63.9

1186.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.06 $7.06

$18.64 ฿613

-62.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿257

Cappuccino

$1.01 $1.01

$1.95 ฿64.2

-48.21%

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

$1.27 $1.27

$0.85 ฿27.95

49.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.13 ฿70.1

-5.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.73 ฿123

-47.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.71 ฿56.3

49.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.63 ฿53.5

73.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.14 ฿37.39

287.72%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$1.93 ฿63.5

139.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$16.21 ฿533

-35.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿103

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 $11.42

$10.90 ฿358

4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.78

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.74

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.42 $11.42

$4.69 ฿154

143.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.78 $14.78

$18.66 ฿613

-20.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$3.23 ฿106

-10.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.90 ฿29.44

124.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿632

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 $5.02

$1.41 ฿46.21

256.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.27 ฿41.85

1.57%

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

$21.3K ฿699.4K

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

$22.2K ฿730.1K

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

$69.1 ฿2,270

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

$30.30 $30.30

$14.08 ฿463

115.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$18.00 ฿592

312.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.58 $49.58

$41.06 ฿1,350

20.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$6.96 ฿229

46.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 $8.77

$5.92 ฿194

48.14%

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

$299 ฿9,829

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿491.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,798

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿880

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,320

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 $148

$428 ฿14.1K

-65.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 $200

$237 ฿7,801

-15.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 $890

$801 ฿26.3K

11.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 $707

$515 ฿16.9K

37.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$1,975 ฿64.9K

804.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

$1,475 ฿48.5K

624.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,189 $1,189

$617 ฿20.3K

92.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pago Pago: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Pago Pago 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 93% higher in Pago Pago, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Pago Pago versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $246 – making Pago Pago 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Pago Pago, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,193 per month in Pago Pago and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $795 in Pago Pago and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $795 in Pago Pago and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pago Pago costs $795 versus $866 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 Pago Pago. 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.