Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathein and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,019 in Pathein, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Pathein despite lower rent and utilities.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Pathein

🇲🇲 Myanmar

$1,019

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pathein and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pathein and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Pathein vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pathein $1,019
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,843 per month in Pathein vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pathein $1,843
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,666 per month in Pathein vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pathein $2,666
Chiang Mai $1,979

Pathein costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Pathein and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pathein 25% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.54 MMK 3,223

$2.24 ฿75.7

-31.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.05 MMK 42.0K

$19.00 ฿642

5.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.08 MMK 16.9K

$5.55 ฿188

45.59%

Cappuccino

$1.53 MMK 3,210

$1.67 ฿56.6

-8.38%

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

$0.52 MMK 1,098

$0.64 ฿21.56

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MMK 1,092

$0.31 ฿10.32

67.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 MMK 3,211

$2.36 ฿79.6

-35.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 MMK 2,129

$3.66 ฿124

-72.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 MMK 3,178

$1.44 ฿48.51

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.93 MMK 6,133

$1.33 ฿45.07

120.30%

Eggs

$2.39 MMK 5,000

$2.28 ฿77.1

4.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.69 MMK 85.2K

$16.45 ฿556

147.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 MMK 12.4K

$2.78 ฿94.0

112.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 MMK 16.7K

$9.31 ฿314

-14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$9.83 MMK 20.6K

$2.35 ฿79.5

318.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

Oranges (1kg)

$10.05 MMK 21.0K

$1.60 ฿53.9

528.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 MMK 10.2K

$1.50 ฿50.7

225.33%

Potato (1kg)

$4.09 MMK 8,555

$1.28 ฿43.15

219.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 MMK 4,102

$1.10 ฿37.22

78.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 MMK 1,073

$0.71 ฿23.84

-28.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 MMK 6,151

$4.14 ฿140

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 MMK 41.3K

$17.52 ฿592

12.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 MMK 3,218

$1.61 ฿54.5

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 MMK 4,299

$2.78 ฿94.0

-26.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MMK 2,043

$0.53 ฿17.82

84.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 MMK 6,214

$2.42 ฿81.8

22.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 MMK 4,091

$1.45 ฿48.93

34.48%

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

$32.3K MMK 67.7M

$21.1K ฿711.2K

53.47%

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

$31.4K MMK 65.7M

$26.9K ฿909.8K

16.49%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

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

$19.80 MMK 41.5K

$12.17 ฿411

62.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.03 MMK 21.0K

$20.12 ฿680

-50.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$151 MMK 315.1K

$37.31 ฿1,260

303.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 MMK 4,247

$6.49 ฿219

-68.72%

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

$395 MMK 827.0K

$736 ฿24.9K

-46.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,846 MMK 10.1M

$14.8K ฿498.6K

-67.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.85 MMK 41.6K

$53.4 ฿1,802

-62.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.17 MMK 31.8K

$24.64 ฿832

-38.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.73 MMK 104.1K

$91.5 ฿3,089

-45.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.4 MMK 124.4K

$71.9 ฿2,429

-17.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MMK 850.2K

$482 ฿16.3K

-15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 MMK 629.3K

$309 ฿10.4K

-2.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 MMK 2.3M

$1,006 ฿34.0K

7.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MMK 2.1M

$633 ฿21.4K

60.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Pathein: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Pathein

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Pathein versus $482 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 $20 in Pathein versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇲 Pathein

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

05:43 5:43 AM

06:13 6:13 AM

30 min ahead of Pathein

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

315,600

127,240

💱 Currency

Myanmar Kyat MMK K

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 MMK = 4.78 USD

10,000 MMK = 4.29 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MMK – Myanmar Kyat Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇲 Myanmar Kyat (K)

Myanmar Kyat exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2,094 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.78 USD). 1 EUR = 2,331 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.29 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to MMK in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Pathein Chiang Mai 500 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Pathein
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Pathein costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,528 per month in Pathein and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pathein, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $406 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Pathein and $19 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% more in Pathein, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,019 in Pathein and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,019 in Pathein. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.