Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $281 per month in Bakau vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $483 per month in Bakau vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $686 per month in Bakau vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bakau is about 67% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bakau and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bakau 79% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 GMD 325

$1.96 ฿63.6

123.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$4.70 GMD 348

$1.91 ฿62.2

146.07%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 GMD 82.0

$0.35 ฿11.44

217.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 GMD 129

$2.21 ฿71.7

-21.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 GMD 208

$3.80 ฿124

-26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 GMD 185

$1.64 ฿53.2

52.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

Eggs

$5.59 GMD 415

$2.01 ฿65.4

178.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.97 GMD 1,259

$3.01 ฿98.0

463.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 GMD 1,006

$18.20 ฿592

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 GMD 161

$1.83 ฿59.6

18.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 GMD 214

$3.23 ฿105

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 GMD 5,294

$515 ฿16.7K

-86.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bakau: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

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

Bakau vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 204% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $421 per month in Bakau and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $281 in Bakau and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 38% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $281 in Bakau and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $281 versus $852 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 Bakau. 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.