Cost of Living Comparison Between Bac Ninh and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bac Ninh and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Bac Ninh vs $905 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $741 per month in Bac Ninh vs $1,374 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,031 per month in Bac Ninh vs $1,843 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bac Ninh is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bac Ninh and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bac Ninh 67% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$2.08 ฿68.8

-46.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 ₫550.8K

$19.52 ฿645

7.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.50 ₫65.4K

$5.94 ฿196

-57.91%

Cappuccino

$1.11 ₫29.0K

$1.70 ฿56.3

-34.71%

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

$0.26 ₫6,772

$0.72 ฿23.75

-63.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₫5,181

$0.32 ฿10.71

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 ₫17.3K

$2.44 ฿80.7

-72.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$3.66 ฿121

-75.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ₫38.0K

$1.86 ฿61.3

-22.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 ₫24.5K

$1.56 ฿51.5

-40.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 ₫20.8K

$1.33 ฿43.89

-40.60%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.2K

$2.16 ฿71.4

-34.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ₫269.3K

$15.58 ฿514

-34.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 ₫100.4K

$2.85 ฿94.0

34.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.80 ₫256.7K

$10.39 ฿343

-5.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 ₫83.5K

$2.44 ฿80.4

30.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$1.09 ฿35.95

3.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$1.47 ฿48.53

-6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$1.49 ฿49.22

-24.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₫22.9K

$1.20 ฿39.58

-27.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.09 ฿35.84

-1.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₫16.7K

$0.69 ฿22.71

-7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.2K

$0.51 ฿16.96

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$4.37 ฿144

-68.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.39 ₫351.0K

$16.63 ฿549

-19.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₫24.3K

$1.65 ฿54.4

-43.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₫43.6K

$2.74 ฿90.6

-39.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₫10.3K

$0.94 ฿31.14

-58.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ฿1,808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₫19.6K

$1.23 ฿40.50

-39.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ₫14.3K

$0.57 ฿18.93

-3.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 ₫59.0K

$2.36 ฿77.9

-4.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₫23.0K

$1.45 ฿47.84

-39.31%

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

$30.0K ₫786.4M

$20.8K ฿688.2K

43.99%

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

$30.4K ₫797.5M

$26.3K ฿867.4K

15.86%

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

$78.2 ₫2.0M

$62.3 ฿2,058

25.44%

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

$5.35 ₫140.1K

$13.01 ฿430

-58.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.90 ₫180.7K

$19.45 ฿642

-64.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.19 ₫293.3K

$38.68 ฿1,277

-71.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ₫203.6K

$3.86 ฿127

101.30%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 ₫79.0K

$6.62 ฿218

-54.53%

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

$681 ₫17.9M

$782 ฿25.8K

-12.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K ₫321.3M

$14.8K ฿488.8K

-17.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 ₫1.3M

$54.1 ฿1,785

-7.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.98 ₫680.9K

$25.39 ฿838

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₫2.1M

$90.9 ฿3,003

-10.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 ₫2.2M

$74.0 ฿2,442

12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₫18.1M

$476 ฿15.7K

45.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ฿9,073

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 ฿29.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,633 ₫42.8M

$1,989 ฿65.7K

-17.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 ₫20.3M

$1,476 ฿48.7K

-47.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$366 ₫9.6M

$598 ฿19.7K

-38.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.45

5.57

51.71%

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

Last update for Bac Ninh: August 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Bac Ninh versus $476 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 63% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Bac Ninh versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Bac Ninh vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Bac Ninh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bac Ninh vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 101% more than Bac Ninh, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Bac Ninh and $1,358 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bac Ninh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Bac Ninh and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bac Ninh, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Chiang Mai at $905. In Bac Ninh 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. Bac Ninh costs $450 versus $905 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 Bac Ninh. 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.