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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $910 per month in Pasaje vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Pasaje vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,965 per month in Pasaje vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pasaje costs about 5% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pasaje and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pasaje 32% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 $3.59

$1.94 ฿63.5

85.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.33 $47.33

$18.64 ฿609

153.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.82 ฿255

-0.38%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$1.95 ฿63.8

28.72%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$0.85 ฿27.77

7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.35 ฿11.58

77.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.13 ฿69.6

37.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.73 ฿122

22.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.71 ฿56.0

-33.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.63 ฿53.2

3.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.14 ฿37.15

57.02%

Eggs

$2.50 $2.50

$1.93 ฿63.1

29.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$16.21 ฿530

-63.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.12 ฿102

64.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$10.90 ฿356

-42.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.75 ฿90.0

-22.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 ฿39.52

-14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.62 ฿53.0

-35.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.59 ฿51.8

-35.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.40 ฿45.70

35.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.17 ฿38.17

20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.66 ฿21.60

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.53 ฿17.22

92.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.69 ฿153

27.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$18.66 ฿609

-36.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.80 ฿58.8

-10.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.23 ฿106

-31.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.90 ฿29.26

-58.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.26 $24.26

$19.21 ฿628

26.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.41 ฿45.91

95.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.29 ฿42.12

-20.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 $9.95

$7.84 ฿256

26.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.27 ฿41.58

-46.46%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

16.93%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

29.99%

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

$37.69 $37.69

$69.1 ฿2,256

-45.43%

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

$13.81 $13.81

$14.08 ฿460

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.78 $31.78

$18.00 ฿588

76.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.39 $30.39

$41.06 ฿1,341

-25.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.53 $14.53

$6.96 ฿227

108.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 $7.68

$5.92 ฿193

29.73%

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

$315 $315

$299 ฿9,766

5.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,944 $5,944

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-60.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$54.7 ฿1,787

-4.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$26.77 ฿874

60.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$85.0 ฿2,776

21.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$70.6 ฿2,306

56.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$428 ฿14.0K

-21.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$237 ฿7,752

34.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 $625

$801 ฿26.2K

-22.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 $500

$515 ฿16.8K

-2.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,310 $1,310

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-33.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 $760

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-48.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

87.00%

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

Last update for Pasaje: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Pasaje 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Pasaje versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Pasaje vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Pasaje wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Pasaje costs about 5% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,365 per month in Pasaje 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 Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Pasaje and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Pasaje – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $910 in Pasaje and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $910 in Pasaje. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pasaje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.