Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Playa del Carmen 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Playa del Carmen is 42.3% higher than in Chiang Mai (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Playa del Carmen is 55.1% higher than in Chiang Mai | |
| Rent Prices in Playa del Carmen are 105.0% higher than in Chiang Mai | |
| Restaurant Prices in Playa del Carmen are 139.1% higher than in Chiang Mai | |
| Groceries Prices in Playa del Carmen are 12.2% higher than in Chiang Mai | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Playa del Carmen is 26.5% lower than in Chiang Mai | |
Restaurants | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
70.00 ฿ (37.58 MXN) |
372.51 ฿ (200.00 MXN) |
+432.2 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
625.00 ฿ (335.56 MXN) |
1,490.05 ฿ (800.00 MXN) |
+138.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
250.00 ฿ (134.22 MXN) |
410.88 ฿ (220.60 MXN) |
+64.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
70.00 ฿ (37.58 MXN) |
149.01 ฿ (80.00 MXN) |
+112.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
122.50 ฿ (65.77 MXN) |
186.26 ฿ (100.00 MXN) |
+52.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
59.05 ฿ (31.70 MXN) |
128.38 ฿ (68.93 MXN) |
+117.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
25.00 ฿ (13.42 MXN) |
45.93 ฿ (24.66 MXN) |
+83.7 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
10.95 ฿ (5.88 MXN) |
51.26 ฿ (27.52 MXN) |
+368.0 % |
Markets | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
61.30 ฿ (32.91 MXN) |
53.15 ฿ (28.53 MXN) |
-13.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
50.49 ฿ (27.11 MXN) |
63.42 ฿ (34.05 MXN) |
+25.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
17.13 ฿ (9.20 MXN) |
24.36 ฿ (13.08 MXN) |
+42.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
69.53 ฿ (37.33 MXN) |
87.06 ฿ (46.74 MXN) |
+25.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
225.60 ฿ (121.12 MXN) |
135.18 ฿ (72.57 MXN) |
-40.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
43.28 ฿ (23.24 MXN) |
128.97 ฿ (69.25 MXN) |
+198.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
169.09 ฿ (90.78 MXN) |
183.05 ฿ (98.28 MXN) |
+8.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
38.45 ฿ (20.64 MXN) |
44.13 ฿ (23.69 MXN) |
+14.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
14.65 ฿ (7.86 MXN) |
21.96 ฿ (11.79 MXN) |
+49.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
25.41 ฿ (13.64 MXN) |
30.84 ฿ (16.56 MXN) |
+21.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
23.01 ฿ (12.35 MXN) |
32.96 ฿ (17.70 MXN) |
+43.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
19.66 ฿ (10.55 MXN) |
29.29 ฿ (15.72 MXN) |
+49.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
16.65 ฿ (8.94 MXN) |
29.24 ฿ (15.70 MXN) |
+75.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
26.93 ฿ (14.46 MXN) |
38.77 ฿ (20.81 MXN) |
+43.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
16.54 ฿ (8.88 MXN) |
37.25 ฿ (20.00 MXN) |
+125.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
600.00 ฿ (322.14 MXN) |
335.26 ฿ (180.00 MXN) |
-44.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
56.75 ฿ (30.47 MXN) |
51.79 ฿ (27.81 MXN) |
-8.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
94.35 ฿ (50.66 MXN) |
95.70 ฿ (51.38 MXN) |
+1.4 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
142.80 ฿ (76.67 MXN) |
145.28 ฿ (78.00 MXN) |
+1.7 % |
Transportation | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 ฿ (16.11 MXN) |
18.63 ฿ (10.00 MXN) |
-37.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
1,800.00 ฿ (966.41 MXN) |
931.28 ฿ (500.00 MXN) |
-48.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
40.00 ฿ (21.48 MXN) |
149.01 ฿ (80.00 MXN) |
+272.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
48.28 ฿ (25.92 MXN) |
186.26 ฿ (100.00 MXN) |
+285.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
60.00 ฿ (32.21 MXN) |
335.26 ฿ (180.00 MXN) |
+458.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
40.18 ฿ (21.57 MXN) |
47.25 ฿ (25.37 MXN) |
+17.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
700,000.00 ฿ (375,825.26 MXN) |
720,795.08 ฿ (386,990.00 MXN) |
+3.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
882,333.33 ฿ (473,718.80 MXN) |
815,866.74 ฿ (438,033.33 MXN) |
-7.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,131.08 ฿ (1,144.16 MXN) |
2,870.72 ฿ (1,541.27 MXN) |
+34.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
451.12 ฿ (242.20 MXN) |
745.03 ฿ (400.00 MXN) |
+65.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
602.42 ฿ (323.43 MXN) |
998.34 ฿ (536.00 MXN) |
+65.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
1,462.50 ฿ (785.21 MXN) |
2,189.85 ฿ (1,175.72 MXN) |
+49.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
128.12 ฿ (68.79 MXN) |
838.16 ฿ (450.00 MXN) |
+554.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
230.00 ฿ (123.49 MXN) |
161.13 ฿ (86.51 MXN) |
-29.9 % |
Childcare | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
26,302.14 ฿ (14,121.44 MXN) |
7,031.19 ฿ (3,775.00 MXN) |
-73.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
498,811.11 ฿ (267,808.31 MXN) |
134,104.88 ฿ (72,000.00 MXN) |
-73.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
1,845.79 ฿ (990.99 MXN) |
1,485.13 ฿ (797.36 MXN) |
-19.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
835.44 ฿ (448.54 MXN) |
1,406.29 ฿ (755.03 MXN) |
+68.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
3,182.00 ฿ (1,708.39 MXN) |
3,032.35 ฿ (1,628.05 MXN) |
-4.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
2,574.72 ฿ (1,382.35 MXN) |
2,965.34 ฿ (1,592.07 MXN) |
+15.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
14,839.69 ฿ (7,967.33 MXN) |
34,436.19 ฿ (18,488.56 MXN) |
+132.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
8,770.59 ฿ (4,708.87 MXN) |
12,735.92 ฿ (6,837.83 MXN) |
+45.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
29,941.67 ฿ (16,075.48 MXN) |
57,118.74 ฿ (30,666.67 MXN) |
+90.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
17,307.69 ฿ (9,292.38 MXN) |
40,976.49 ฿ (22,000.00 MXN) |
+136.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
6,049.80 ฿ (3,248.09 MXN) |
11,980.41 ฿ (6,432.20 MXN) |
+98.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
4,516.91 ฿ (2,425.10 MXN) |
19,509.27 ฿ (10,474.40 MXN) |
+331.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chiang Mai Edit |
Playa del Carmen Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
20,391.63 ฿ (10,948.13 MXN) |
23,255.13 ฿ (12,485.52 MXN) |
+14.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.82 | 11.60 | +99.1 % |
| Last update: | 4 March 2026 | 8 March 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 46 | 18 | |
Cities near Chiang Mai: | Cost of Living in Chiang Rai | 116.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Mae Sot | 218.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Phitsanulok | 242.68 miles |
Cities near Playa del Carmen: | Cost of Living in Cancun | 43.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Motul de Carrillo Puerto | 169.06 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chetumal | 196.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Merida | 223.09 miles |