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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Perm vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,629 per month in Perm vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Perm vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Perm costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Perm and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Perm 19% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 ₽650

$1.96 ฿64.0

341.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.41 ₽2,359

$18.81 ฿615

66.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.39 ₽405

$7.92 ฿259

-31.94%

Cappuccino

$2.26 ₽170

$1.91 ฿62.6

18.32%

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

$1.01 ₽76.2

$0.84 ฿27.41

20.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₽30.51

$0.35 ฿11.51

17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₽96.8

$2.21 ฿72.1

-41.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₽195

$3.80 ฿124

-31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 ₽69.8

$1.64 ฿53.5

-43.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₽50.3

$1.62 ฿53.1

-58.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 ₽110

$1.18 ฿38.62

24.58%

Eggs

$1.75 ₽131

$2.01 ฿65.8

-12.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₽692

$15.89 ฿520

-42.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₽355

$3.01 ฿98.5

57.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ₽754

$10.77 ฿352

-6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 ₽124

$2.61 ฿85.5

-36.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₽137

$1.22 ฿39.88

49.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₽135

$1.70 ฿55.7

5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₽189

$1.58 ฿51.5

59.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 ₽73.0

$1.32 ฿43.14

-26.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 ₽61.5

$1.17 ฿38.23

-29.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₽81.0

$0.67 ฿21.98

61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽50.4

$0.56 ฿18.32

19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₽245

$4.53 ฿148

-28.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 ₽706

$18.20 ฿595

-48.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽76.9

$1.83 ฿60.0

-44.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₽143

$3.23 ฿106

-41.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽39.30

$0.89 ฿29.00

-41.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 ₽1,746

$19.38 ฿634

19.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 ₽133

$1.35 ฿44.20

31.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽13.38

$1.35 ฿44.05

-86.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.44 ₽333

$8.25 ฿270

-46.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽58.5

$1.27 ฿41.64

-38.58%

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

$31.3K ₽2.4M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

47.91%

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

$38.5K ₽2.9M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

71.20%

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

$104 ₽7,806

$70.2 ฿2,294

48.15%

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

$5.75 ₽432

$13.77 ฿450

-58.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.43 ₽709

$17.60 ฿575

-46.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.23 ₽2,345

$41.57 ฿1,360

-24.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 ₽1,243

$6.60 ฿216

150.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 ₽375

$5.78 ฿189

-13.49%

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

$334 ₽25.1K

$306 ฿10.0K

8.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,956 ₽372.2K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-66.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 ₽7,399

$54.4 ฿1,778

81.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 ₽2,980

$26.14 ฿855

51.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽10.6K

$84.5 ฿2,764

66.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 ₽11.2K

$69.4 ฿2,270

115.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 ₽40.7K

$424 ฿13.9K

27.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 ₽27.0K

$238 ฿7,788

50.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 ₽62.9K

$825 ฿27.0K

1.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₽44.2K

$515 ฿16.8K

14.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,283 ₽171.5K

$2,049 ฿67.0K

11.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,655 ₽124.3K

$1,523 ฿49.8K

8.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$866 ₽65.0K

$635 ฿20.8K

36.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.62

252.40%

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

Last update for Perm: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $542 in Perm versus $424 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 36% higher in Perm, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Perm versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Perm vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Perm wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Perm costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,618 per month in Perm and $1,278 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 $334 per month in Perm and $306 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 25% cheaper in Perm – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Perm at $1,078. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,078 in Perm. 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, Perm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.