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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,838 in Barrigada versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,634 in Barrigada versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,431 in Barrigada versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Barrigada is roughly 200% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barrigada is 107% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$19.64 ฿654

412.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

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

$0.71 ฿23.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿50.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿331

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.18

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.30

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.19 ฿140

63.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.82

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿41.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 ฿47.03

0.71%

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

$21.4K ฿714.1K

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

$27.3K ฿910.2K

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

$406 $406

$63.7 ฿2,120

537.24%

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

$102 $102

$12.85 ฿428

692.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.7 $79.7

$20.22 ฿673

294.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,290

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿224

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

$718 $718

$778 ฿25.9K

-7.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,141

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,455 $2,455

$490 ฿16.3K

401.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$289 ฿9,634

662.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,341 $3,341

$894 ฿29.8K

273.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 $3,209

$517 ฿17.2K

520.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,729 $4,729

$602 ฿20.0K

685.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Barrigada: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,455 in Barrigada and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 685% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $101 in Barrigada vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for two.

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

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

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 200% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 685% higher in Barrigada, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,455 in Barrigada versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $101 in Barrigada. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Childcare runs $718 in Barrigada versus $778 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $2,838 in Barrigada, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Barrigada. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Barrigada 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.