🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $575 in Bakixanov versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $940 in Bakixanov versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,304 in Bakixanov versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Bakixanov costs roughly 34% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bakixanov57% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.73₼14.84
$1.98฿64.3
340.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.67₼58.9
$18.80฿612
84.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.01₼10.21
$7.75฿252
-22.45%
Cappuccino
$2.61₼4.43
$1.92฿62.5
35.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61₼1.04
$0.79฿25.79
-22.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₼0.51
$0.36฿11.62
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16₼1.97
$2.21฿72.1
-47.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71₼2.91
$3.66฿119
-53.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37₼2.33
$1.65฿53.8
-16.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₼0.82
$1.63฿53.2
-70.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29₼3.89
$1.19฿38.86
92.44%
Eggs
$1.36₼2.32
$2.00฿65.1
-32.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.18₼8.80
$15.98฿520
-67.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82₼8.20
$3.03฿98.5
59.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35₼17.59
$10.86฿354
-4.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28₼2.18
$2.76฿90.0
-53.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80₼3.06
$1.18฿38.42
52.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54₼2.61
$1.64฿53.5
-6.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84₼3.13
$1.52฿49.51
21.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78₼1.33
$1.38฿45.10
-43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₼0.83
$1.19฿38.84
-58.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43₼0.72
$0.70฿22.86
-38.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61₼1.04
$0.56฿18.13
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52₼5.98
$4.58฿149
-23.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.03₼15.35
$16.56฿539
-45.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35₼2.30
$1.83฿59.5
-26.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82₼4.79
$3.20฿104
-11.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₼0.47
$0.88฿28.56
-68.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10₼3.57
$1.36฿44.16
54.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58₼0.98
$1.34฿43.65
-56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.47₼5.89
$7.84฿256
-55.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69₼1.16
$1.23฿39.92
-43.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K₼34.7K
$21.6K฿704.3K
-5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K₼38.2K
$22.5K฿734.3K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.8₼103
$70.5฿2,298
-13.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₼20.35
$13.68฿445
-12.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.18₼25.80
$17.45฿568
-13.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78₼9.83
$5.77฿188
0.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$249₼423
$307฿10.0K
-18.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,418₼10.9K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-56.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4₼99.2
$55.8฿1,817
4.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1₼91.9
$26.21฿854
106.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122₼207
$85.8฿2,793
41.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4₼166
$72.2฿2,353
34.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bakixanov
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.87
5
77.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bakixanov: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Bakixanov vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $241, with Bakixanov cheaper for home cooking.
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
Bakixanov vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bakixanov and Chiang Mai?
Bakixanov and Chiang Mai differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($575 vs $869 including rent). Bakixanov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bakixanov compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $863 in Bakixanov and $1,303 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bakixanov or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $575 per month in Bakixanov versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Bakixanov vs Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bakixanov gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Bakixanov and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bakixanov or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bakixanov and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bakixanov or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Bakixanov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.