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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $591 per month in Bakuriani vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $968 per month in Bakuriani vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,346 per month in Bakuriani vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bakuriani is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bakuriani and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bakuriani 56% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.67 ₾22.95

$1.98 ฿64.3

337.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.22 ₾77.4

$18.80 ฿612

55.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 ₾19.24

$7.75 ฿252

-6.32%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ₾7.42

$1.92 ฿62.5

45.83%

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

$0.84 ₾2.21

$0.79 ฿25.79

6.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₾1.17

$0.36 ฿11.62

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₾3.83

$2.21 ฿72.1

-34.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₾5.75

$3.66 ฿119

-40.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ₾4.78

$1.65 ฿53.8

9.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₾1.37

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ₾4.06

$1.19 ฿38.86

28.57%

Eggs

$2.35 ₾6.22

$2.00 ฿65.1

17.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 ₾17.62

$15.98 ฿520

-58.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₾14.05

$3.03 ฿98.5

74.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₾23.18

$10.86 ฿354

-19.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 ₾2.85

$2.76 ฿90.0

-60.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₾3.78

$1.18 ฿38.42

21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 ₾3.37

$1.64 ฿53.5

-22.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ₾4.64

$1.52 ฿49.51

15.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 ₾1.38

$1.38 ฿45.10

-62.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₾1.38

$1.19 ฿38.84

-56.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ₾3.55

$0.70 ฿22.86

91.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₾1.61

$0.56 ฿18.13

8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₾7.61

$4.58 ฿149

-37.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.51 ₾14.60

$16.56 ฿539

-66.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₾3.42

$1.83 ฿59.5

-29.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₾5.08

$3.20 ฿104

-40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₾2.88

$1.36 ฿44.16

-19.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 ₾1.38

$1.34 ฿43.65

-61.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 ₾7.55

$7.84 ฿256

-63.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₾2.94

$1.23 ฿39.92

-9.76%

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

$14.5K ₾38.5K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

-32.76%

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

$18.2K ₾48.2K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

-19.35%

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

$74.5 ₾197

$70.5 ฿2,298

5.60%

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

$10.42 ₾27.59

$13.68 ฿445

-23.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.00 ₾45.01

$17.45 ฿568

-2.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.44 ₾14.40

$5.77 ฿188

-5.72%

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

$246 ₾651

$307 ฿10.0K

-19.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,875 ₾7,615

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-80.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.1 ₾225

$55.8 ฿1,817

52.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.92 ₾111

$26.21 ฿854

59.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₾323

$85.8 ฿2,793

42.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₾279

$72.2 ฿2,353

45.92%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

143.40%

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

Last update for Bakuriani: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Bakuriani versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $176 in Bakuriani vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Bakuriani 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than Bakuriani, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $886 per month in Bakuriani and $1,303 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 $591 in Bakuriani and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $246 per month in Bakuriani and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $591 in Bakuriani and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakuriani costs $591 versus $869 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 Bakuriani. 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.