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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $385 in Baniyas versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $673 in Baniyas versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $961 in Baniyas versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Baniyas costs roughly 60% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baniyas 72% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 SYP 236

$2.10 ฿69.3

-7.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.46 SYP 5,403

$19.84 ฿656

124.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 SYP 827

$5.79 ฿191

17.44%

Cappuccino

$0.51 SYP 62.2

$1.83 ฿60.4

-72.13%

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

$1.03 SYP 125

$0.78 ฿25.61

32.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SYP 37.70

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 SYP 180

$2.34 ฿77.2

-36.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 SYP 370

$3.70 ฿122

-17.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 SYP 95.5

$2.03 ฿67.1

-61.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 SYP 46.92

$1.60 ฿52.7

-75.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$1.42 ฿46.75

-27.46%

Eggs

$1.23 SYP 150

$2.18 ฿71.9

-43.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 SYP 421

$15.91 ฿526

-78.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 SYP 684

$3.07 ฿102

83.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 SYP 1,660

$9.87 ฿326

38.40%

Apples (1kg)

$0.48 SYP 58.4

$2.63 ฿86.8

-81.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.10 ฿36.19

-10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 34.92

$1.63 ฿53.8

-82.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 SYP 63.0

$1.53 ฿50.6

-66.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 34.76

$1.24 ฿41.13

-76.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 SYP 50.8

$1.13 ฿37.37

-62.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 48.64

$0.74 ฿24.38

-45.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.50 ฿16.48

22.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 SYP 338

$4.28 ฿141

-35.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 SYP 618

$17.97 ฿594

-71.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 SYP 133

$1.70 ฿56.1

-35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SYP 360

$2.90 ฿95.7

2.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 SYP 20.96

$0.94 ฿31.13

-81.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.09 SYP 983

$55.3 ฿1,827

-85.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 SYP 125

$1.23 ฿40.76

-16.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 SYP 186

$0.53 ฿17.66

188.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 SYP 937

$2.40 ฿79.3

221.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 SYP 184

$1.44 ฿47.55

5.56%

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

$14.8K SYP 1.8M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

-30.35%

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

$19.2K SYP 2.3M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-29.59%

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

$19.85 SYP 2,413

$64.9 ฿2,145

-69.43%

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

$4.01 SYP 488

$13.35 ฿441

-69.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.03 SYP 5,716

$20.83 ฿688

125.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 SYP 656

$6.71 ฿222

-19.52%

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

$67.3 SYP 8,180

$787 ฿26.0K

-91.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,777 SYP 216.0K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-88.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.82 SYP 951

$56.2 ฿1,858

-86.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.29 SYP 4,775

$24.95 ฿824

57.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 SYP 7,378

$92.7 ฿3,063

-34.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 SYP 7,201

$75.1 ฿2,482

-21.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.25

5.57

155.83%

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

Last update for Baniyas: September 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Baniyas vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $145 vs $242, with Baniyas cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Baniyas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $577 in Baniyas and $1,426 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Baniyas – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $385 per month in Baniyas versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 147% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $385 in Baniyas versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baniyas but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Baniyas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Baniyas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Baniyas 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.

Expats usually find Baniyas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.