Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 43.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 111.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 55% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 104.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$2.03 ฿64.0
400.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 PAB 50.4
$18.59 ฿586
171.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 PAB 7.88
$7.48 ฿236
5.35%
Cappuccino
$3.71 PAB 3.71
$2.00 ฿63.0
85.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$0.85 ฿26.72
92.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 PAB 1.33
$0.35 ฿11.09
280.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$2.21 ฿69.8
33.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 PAB 4.06
$3.76 ฿118
7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.72 ฿54.2
6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PAB 2.58
$1.63 ฿51.5
58.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$1.16 ฿36.54
106.90%
Eggs
$2.97 PAB 2.97
$1.98 ฿62.4
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$15.93 ฿502
-28.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 PAB 7.06
$3.17 ฿99.9
122.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.76 PAB 9.76
$10.90 ฿344
-10.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 PAB 3.40
$2.65 ฿83.4
28.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$1.22 ฿38.57
22.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$1.70 ฿53.5
62.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 PAB 3.23
$1.59 ฿50.2
103.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 PAB 2.20
$1.32 ฿41.76
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 PAB 2.87
$1.17 ฿36.86
145.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$0.68 ฿21.38
219.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$0.56 ฿17.58
175.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 PAB 5.99
$4.51 ฿142
32.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 PAB 10.31
$19.07 ฿602
-45.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$1.77 ฿55.8
-26.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 PAB 2.33
$3.18 ฿100
-26.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
$0.96 ฿30.37
-55.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.39 PAB 22.39
$18.90 ฿596
18.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
$1.36 ฿42.83
80.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$1.35 ฿42.65
34.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.57 PAB 21.57
$8.03 ฿253
168.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PAB 0.95
$1.24 ฿39.20
-23.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$21.2K ฿667.5K
-4.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$21.8K ฿686.1K
-7.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 PAB 123
$71.2 ฿2,247
73.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.81 PAB 29.81
$14.09 ฿444
111.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.87 PAB 49.87
$17.47 ฿551
185.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.19 PAB 46.19
$42.07 ฿1,327
9.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.83 PAB 32.83
$6.88 ฿217
377.18%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 PAB 8.09
$5.94 ฿187
36.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 PAB 478
$307 ฿9,694
55.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$14.8K ฿466.6K
6.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 PAB 52.0
$55.7 ฿1,756
-6.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66 PAB 46.66
$26.79 ฿845
74.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 PAB 89.6
$83.2 ฿2,625
7.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
$70.1 ฿2,211
75.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 PAB 1,124
$427 ฿13.5K
163.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 PAB 894
$237 ฿7,478
277.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 PAB 2,059
$802 ฿25.3K
156.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 PAB 1,553
$503 ฿15.9K
208.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,128 PAB 3,128
$2,061 ฿65.0K
51.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$1,533 ฿48.3K
12.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 PAB 967
$654 ฿20.6K
47.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
5
24.60%

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

Last update for Panama City: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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