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

😐 Solo nomad: Balga is 88% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 152.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Balga is 112.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 143.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.20 A$22.51
$2.01 ฿64.4
705.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.5 A$106
$18.23 ฿583
319.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.27 A$14.28
$7.65 ฿244
34.25%
Cappuccino
$3.66 A$5.08
$1.92 ฿61.3
90.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 A$3.42
$0.84 ฿26.90
192.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 A$2.80
$0.36 ฿11.39
461.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 A$10.95
$2.19 ฿70.0
259.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47 A$9.00
$3.79 ฿121
70.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 A$1.96
$1.64 ฿52.4
-14.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 A$3.26
$1.62 ฿51.8
45.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 A$2.69
$1.15 ฿36.88
67.83%
Eggs
$4.37 A$6.07
$1.94 ฿62.0
125.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 A$12.02
$15.94 ฿510
-45.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.45 A$11.74
$3.10 ฿99.2
172.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.01 A$19.47
$11.07 ฿354
26.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$4.75
$2.71 ฿86.5
26.20%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 A$4.24
$1.18 ฿37.69
158.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 A$3.99
$1.71 ฿54.5
67.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 A$6.41
$1.61 ฿51.3
186.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.42
$1.39 ฿44.53
76.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 A$2.40
$1.15 ฿36.70
49.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 A$2.69
$0.71 ฿22.76
171.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.11
$0.55 ฿17.60
176.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.60 A$43.92
$4.57 ฿146
591.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.53 A$14.63
$18.87 ฿603
-44.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 A$5.40
$1.82 ฿58.2
113.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 A$5.91
$3.21 ฿103
32.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 A$3.64
$0.88 ฿28.16
197.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.4 A$89.5
$18.89 ฿604
240.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 A$5.64
$1.41 ฿45.17
187.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 A$3.09
$1.30 ฿41.59
70.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.59 A$68.9
$8.20 ฿262
504.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 A$1.56
$1.23 ฿39.18
-8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$39.7K
$21.2K ฿677.0K
34.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K A$33.5K
$22.3K ฿713.3K
8.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 A$221
$69.9 ฿2,234
127.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.19 A$39.18
$14.07 ฿450
100.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.1 A$76.6
$17.70 ฿566
211.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.20 A$67.0
$41.41 ฿1,324
16.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.75 A$21.89
$6.69 ฿214
135.43%
Cinema Ticket
$16.31 A$22.67
$5.74 ฿184
184.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,790 A$2,488
$299 ฿9,566
498.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K A$16.9K
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-18.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7 A$98.3
$54.8 ฿1,753
29.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.64 A$67.6
$26.35 ฿842
84.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 A$143
$84.7 ฿2,706
21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 A$149
$69.7 ฿2,229
54.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 A$1,742
$427 ฿13.6K
193.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 A$1,505
$241 ฿7,697
349.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,021 A$2,809
$811 ฿25.9K
149.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,658 A$2,304
$498 ฿15.9K
232.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,708 A$7,934
$2,022 ฿64.7K
182.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,180 A$7,201
$1,524 ฿48.7K
239.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,364 A$4,677
$639 ฿20.4K
426.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
5
28.40%

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

Last update for Balga: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 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

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