😐A single person spends $1,788 per month in Bastia vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,789 per month in Bastia vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,790 per month in Bastia vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Bastia costs about 106% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bastia sits 33% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13€14.75
$1.94฿63.5
782.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2€50.1
$18.64฿609
211.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.61€10.00
$7.82฿255
48.47%
Cappuccino
$3.39€2.92
$1.95฿63.8
73.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.38
$0.85฿27.77
224.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$0.35฿11.58
408.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98€6.01
$2.13฿69.6
227.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96€5.13
$3.73฿122
59.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.71฿56.0
-23.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79€1.54
$1.63฿53.2
9.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.14฿37.15
133.33%
Eggs
$3.93€3.38
$1.93฿63.1
103.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.33
$16.21฿530
16.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.80€11.88
$3.12฿102
342.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.12€18.18
$10.90฿356
93.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10€2.67
$2.75฿90.0
12.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.21฿39.52
88.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$1.62฿53.0
72.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66€3.15
$1.59฿51.8
130.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.40฿45.70
55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$1.17฿38.17
121.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$0.66฿21.60
127.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.58
$0.53฿17.22
28.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87€11.94
$4.69฿153
195.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67€7.46
$18.66฿609
-53.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.25
$1.80฿58.8
45.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.23฿106
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.71
$0.90฿29.26
121.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.11€42.27
$19.21฿628
155.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.69€4.04
$1.41฿45.91
232.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79€1.54
$1.29฿42.12
38.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.30€31.25
$7.84฿256
363.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.73
$1.27฿41.58
58.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$21.3K฿694.9K
73.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K€31.7K
$22.2K฿725.4K
65.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191€164
$69.1฿2,256
176.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.96€19.76
$14.08฿460
63.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.41€27.90
$18.00฿588
80.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.40€32.20
$41.06฿1,341
-8.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.44€15.87
$6.96฿227
164.94%
Cinema Ticket
$14.03€12.08
$5.92฿193
136.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778€670
$299฿9,766
160.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,736€7,521
$15.0K฿488.3K
-41.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.8
$54.7฿1,787
86.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.61€34.10
$26.77฿874
47.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7€76.3
$85.0฿2,776
4.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€118
$70.6฿2,306
94.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$786€677
$428฿14.0K
83.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605€520
$237฿7,752
154.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,379€1,187
$801฿26.2K
72.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,106€953
$515฿16.8K
114.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,065€3,499
$1,975฿64.5K
105.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,115€2,681
$1,475฿48.2K
111.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bastia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,601€1,378
$617฿20.2K
159.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bastia: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Bastia versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 159% higher in Bastia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Bastia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bastia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bastia or Chiang Mai?
Bastia costs about 106% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bastia vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,682 per month in Bastia and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bastia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bastia vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Bastia and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bastia compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,788 in Bastia and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bastia or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Bastia at $1,788. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bastia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bastia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,788 in Bastia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bastia compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Bastia or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bastia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.