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: $366 in Baniyas versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $608 in Baniyas versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $850 in Baniyas versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Baniyas costs roughly 57% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baniyas 73% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 SYP 247

$1.96 ฿65.9

3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.28 SYP 3,315

$18.35 ฿617

48.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 SYP 682

$7.48 ฿252

-25.00%

Cappuccino

$0.48 SYP 57.8

$2.02 ฿67.8

-76.24%

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

$1.01 SYP 123

$0.85 ฿28.52

18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SYP 37.97

$0.36 ฿11.97

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 SYP 180

$2.14 ฿71.9

-30.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SYP 296

$3.59 ฿121

-32.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 SYP 100

$1.65 ฿55.5

-49.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 75.9

$1.57 ฿52.7

-60.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.19 ฿40.05

-14.29%

Eggs

$1.19 SYP 144

$1.94 ฿65.1

-38.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 370

$16.19 ฿545

-81.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 SYP 926

$2.99 ฿101

154.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 SYP 1,383

$10.94 ฿368

4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.48 SYP 58.0

$2.71 ฿91.2

-82.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 SYP 123

$1.17 ฿39.27

-13.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 34.84

$1.69 ฿56.8

-82.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 SYP 58.6

$1.60 ฿54.0

-70.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 35.12

$1.38 ฿46.56

-78.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 SYP 50.0

$1.20 ฿40.47

-65.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 45.97

$0.67 ฿22.51

-43.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.56 ฿18.74

8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 SYP 359

$4.64 ฿156

-36.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 SYP 598

$17.62 ฿593

-72.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.86 ฿62.6

-45.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 213

$3.30 ฿111

-46.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 SYP 23.11

$0.88 ฿29.70

-78.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.77 SYP 944

$19.34 ฿651

-59.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 SYP 123

$1.36 ฿45.92

-25.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 149

$1.34 ฿45.00

-8.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 SYP 797

$8.21 ฿276

-20.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 SYP 177

$1.22 ฿41.20

19.67%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.2M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-13.56%

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

$21.0K SYP 2.6M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

-6.82%

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

$20.03 SYP 2,434

$70.7 ฿2,378

-71.66%

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

$4.01 SYP 487

$14.04 ฿472

-71.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.0 SYP 6,681

$17.49 ฿589

214.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 SYP 374

$5.92 ฿199

-47.97%

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

$43.57 SYP 5,294

$309 ฿10.4K

-85.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,855 SYP 225.5K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-87.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.76 SYP 944

$55.8 ฿1,876

-86.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.57 SYP 3,107

$26.11 ฿879

-2.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.44 SYP 5,400

$83.0 ฿2,793

-46.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 SYP 6,765

$70.5 ฿2,371

-20.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

175.00%

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

Last update for Baniyas: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Baniyas vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $146 vs $243, 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 135% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $549 in Baniyas and $1,292 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 $27.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $366 per month in Baniyas versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Baniyas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 135% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.