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Chiang Mai vs Koh Phangan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Koh PhanganChiang Mai is 79% cheaper than Koh Phangan
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,867 in Koh Phangan — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $91.1
Per month
$994 vs $1,867
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ฿ 100
$1.67 vs $3.03
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ฿ 200
$1.58 vs $6.06
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 41% cheaper
Cafés & drinksChiang Mai 21% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 66% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 37% cheaper
FunChiang Mai 10% cheaper
- Where Koh Phangan is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (17%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (74%↓), Transit (70%↓), Local meal (45%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Koh Phangan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −45% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ฿ 45$1.36 | Chiang Mai −44% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 450$13.6 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ฿ 85$2.58 | Chiang Mai −24% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ฿ 260$7.88 | Chiang Mai −19% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Chiang Mai −74% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −41% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −70% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ฿ 1,500$45.5 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ฿ 15,000$455 | Chiang Mai −40% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Chiang Mai −12% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ฿ 120$3.64 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 350$10.6 | Chiang Mai −14% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | Chiang Mai −26% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Koh Phangan −17% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Koh Phangan?
Chiang Mai is 79% cheaper than Koh Phangan. Daily budget $53.8 vs $91.1; a month $994 vs $1,867.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Koh Phangan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Koh Phangan about $1,867 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.