Prices

I just got back from an awesome lunch. Sweet and sour chicken, on rice, with fresh vegitables. It was so tasty. To complement it I had a Mango Shake, made with fresh mangos (I know because I watched them make it). The total for the meal was only 45 Baht ($1.29 CAD). I've often thought "something this good should not be this cheap". What's the opposite of highway robbery?

Some other Chiang Mai prices for you in Baht (and Canadian):
- 1L Water: 5 Baht ($0.14)
- Ice Mocha (Starbucks quality): 55-65 Baht ($1.57-$1.86)
- 1.25L bottle of Coke: 27 Baht ($0.77)
- Ice cream cone (prepackaged): 20 Baht ($0.57)
- Typical noodle or rice dish: 25-80 Baht ($0.72-$2.29) The price really fluctuates depending on the attractiveness and location of the place.
- Typical fresh fruit drink: 10-20 Baht ($0.29-$0.57)
- Bag of fresh fruit (Pinaple or watermelon or others): 10 Baht ($0.29)
- Cell phone: 2,200-15,000 Baht ($60-$430)
- Cell phone minutes (anywhere in Thailand): 5 Baht/min 1st minute, 2 Baht/min after (14.3cents, 5.7cents)
- Cell phone call to Canada: 10 Baht/min (29cents/min)
- High speed internet: 30 Baht/hr ($0.86/hr)
- Trip across town on a Tuk Tuk (3 wheel covered cart): 80 Baht ($2.29)
- Trip across town on a Song Tao (pickup truck with benches in the back): 30 Baht ($0.86)
- Trip around town on an air conditioned city bus: 12 Baht ($0.34)
- Small motel room in downtown Chiang Mai--Prices vary, using mine as an example (Hot Showers, TV, Fridge, Air Conditioning, queen size bed, and a 4 foot by 4 foot balcony): 300 Baht/night ($8.57/night).
- 2 hr boat ride up the Ping River (includes herbal drinks): 250 Baht ($7.14)
- A day trek (bamboo river raft, elephants, lunch, hill tribe villages): 700-1600 Baht ($20-$45).

Keep in mind those prices include tax. There is a 7% Value Added Tax (VAT) but it is built into the price on everything you buy. With prices like these, it's no wonder this place is crawling with tourists.