Cost of Living Comparison Between Samut Prakan and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Samut Prakan and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $812 per month in Samut Prakan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,421 per month in Samut Prakan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,030 per month in Samut Prakan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Samut Prakan is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Samut Prakan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Samut Prakan 39% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ฿99.6

$1.94 ฿63.5

57.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.28 ฿499

$18.64 ฿609

-18.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 ฿252

$7.82 ฿255

-1.28%

Cappuccino

$1.31 ฿42.87

$1.95 ฿63.8

-32.82%

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

$0.62 ฿20.36

$0.85 ฿27.77

-27.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ฿9.62

$0.35 ฿11.58

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.13 ฿69.6

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿124

$3.73 ฿122

2.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.84

$1.71 ฿56.0

-16.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ฿33.04

$1.63 ฿53.2

-38.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ฿36.49

$1.14 ฿37.15

-1.75%

Eggs

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.93 ฿63.1

-6.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 ฿439

$16.21 ฿530

-17.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.4

$3.12 ฿102

-9.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 ฿351

$10.90 ฿356

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$2.75 ฿90.0

-33.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ฿24.63

$1.21 ฿39.52

-38.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ฿59.1

$1.62 ฿53.0

11.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 ฿44.85

$1.59 ฿51.8

-13.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.40 ฿45.70

16.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.96

$1.17 ฿38.17

-5.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ฿25.59

$0.66 ฿21.60

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ฿13.92

$0.53 ฿17.22

-18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.76 ฿155

$4.69 ฿153

1.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.09 ฿395

$18.66 ฿609

-35.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 ฿49.38

$1.80 ฿58.8

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.23 ฿106

-31.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ฿16.89

$0.90 ฿29.26

-42.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.10 ฿1,016

$19.21 ฿628

61.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 ฿36.26

$1.41 ฿45.91

-21.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ฿23.16

$1.29 ฿42.12

-44.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.26 ฿172

$7.84 ฿256

-32.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.15

$1.27 ฿41.58

1.57%

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

$12.3K ฿402.5K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-42.08%

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

$21.1K ฿688.9K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-5.04%

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

$73.2 ฿2,390

$69.1 ฿2,256

5.96%

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

$10.91 ฿356

$14.08 ฿460

-22.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 ฿559

$18.00 ฿588

-4.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ฿1,532

$41.06 ฿1,341

14.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.05 ฿393

$6.96 ฿227

73.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 ฿198

$5.92 ฿193

2.53%

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

$383 ฿12.5K

$299 ฿9,766

27.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,856 ฿223.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-54.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.33 ฿631

$54.7 ฿1,787

-64.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.17 ฿1,116

$26.77 ฿874

27.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 ฿2,004

$85.0 ฿2,776

-27.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 ฿1,894

$70.6 ฿2,306

-17.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ฿15.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

13.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 ฿8,005

$237 ฿7,752

3.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 ฿26.2K

$801 ฿26.2K

0.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$832 ฿27.2K

$515 ฿16.8K

61.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,755 ฿57.3K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-11.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,487 ฿48.6K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 ฿21.3K

$617 ฿20.2K

5.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-40.00%

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

Last update for Samut Prakan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Samut Prakan 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.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Samut Prakan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Samut Prakan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $246 – making Samut Prakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Samut Prakan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Samut Prakan, 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 $1,218 per month in Samut Prakan 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 Samut Prakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $383 per month in Samut Prakan and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samut Prakan, where all-in costs run around $812, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Samut Prakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samut Prakan costs $812 versus $866 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 Samut Prakan. 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.