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 $323 per month in Bakau vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $731 per month in Bakau vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,139 per month in Bakau vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bakau is about 65% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bakau and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bakau 76% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.65 GMD 416

$2.08 ฿69.3

171.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.6 GMD 5,637

$19.61 ฿653

290.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 GMD 580

$5.67 ฿189

39.15%

Cappuccino

$3.95 GMD 291

$1.81 ฿60.1

118.23%

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

$2.36 GMD 174

$0.77 ฿25.56

206.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 GMD 84.3

$0.35 ฿11.49

228.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 GMD 270

$2.21 ฿73.7

66.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 GMD 275

$3.79 ฿126

-1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 GMD 184

$2.05 ฿68.1

21.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.54

Eggs

$5.43 GMD 399

$2.26 ฿75.1

140.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.35 GMD 1,203

$2.90 ฿96.4

463.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.25

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.58

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.51

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$13.27 GMD 977

$18.29 ฿609

-27.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 GMD 146

$1.63 ฿54.2

22.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 GMD 197

$2.90 ฿96.5

-7.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,789

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.02

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.25

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

$21.0K ฿699.1K

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

$26.4K ฿879.1K

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

$63.7 ฿2,118

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

$12.89 ฿429

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,298

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,834

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,132

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,461

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,588

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 GMD 5,055

$521 ฿17.3K

-86.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Bakau: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Bakau versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Bakau vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Bakau 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 189% 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 $485 per month in Bakau and $1,398 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 $323 in Bakau and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 Bakau, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Bakau 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. Bakau costs $323 versus $932 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.