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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $92.3 per month in Planken vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $145 per month in Planken vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $197 per month in Planken vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Planken is about 89% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Planken and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Planken 93% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.39 CHF 5.84

$0.89 ฿28.83

730.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.3 CHF 48.44

$19.38 ฿630

216.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,747 CHF 7,700

$635 ฿20.6K

1434.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

62.00%

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

Last update for Planken: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1435% higher in Planken, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 823% more than Planken, 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 $138 per month in Planken and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $92.3 in Planken and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 216% less in Planken. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $92.3 in Planken and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Planken costs $92.3 versus $852 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 Planken. 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.