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 $821 per month in Pago Pago vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,001 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pago Pago is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pago Pago and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pago Pago 39% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.98 $24.98

$1.95 ฿62.8

1181.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$6.95 $6.95

$18.43 ฿594

-62.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

Cappuccino

$0.99 $0.99

$1.93 ฿62.3

-48.70%

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

$1.21 $1.21

$0.78 ฿25.08

55.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.15 ฿69.2

-7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.71 ฿120

-46.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.71 ฿55.2

52.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.56 ฿50.3

83.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.18 ฿38.06

274.58%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$1.98 ฿63.9

120.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 $10.29

$16.04 ฿517

-35.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 $11.26

$10.94 ฿353

2.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.47 $11.47

$4.52 ฿146

153.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$18.32 ฿590

-17.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.18 ฿102

-4.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.90 ฿28.97

115.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.41 ฿45.50

252.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.28 ฿41.08

4.69%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

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

$29.74 $29.74

$13.97 ฿450

112.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$17.95 ฿578

313.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.42 $49.42

$42.31 ฿1,363

16.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 $9.87

$6.66 ฿214

48.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 $9.02

$5.92 ฿191

52.36%

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 $153

$435 ฿14.0K

-64.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 $199

$240 ฿7,727

-17.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$913 $913

$798 ฿25.7K

14.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 $692

$498 ฿16.1K

38.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.8K $17.8K

$1,995 ฿64.3K

792.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$1,532 ฿49.4K

590.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,201 $1,201

$628 ฿20.2K

91.15%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Pago Pago versus $435 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 91% 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 in Pago Pago versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $244 – 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 3% 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 $1,232 per month in Pago Pago and $1,267 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 $821 in Pago Pago and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $821 in Pago Pago and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pago Pago costs $821 versus $845 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.