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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $273 in Beira versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $533 in Beira versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in Beira versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Beira costs roughly 68% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beira 79% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 MZN 487

$2.04 ฿68.4

277.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.54 MZN 2,248

$18.71 ฿626

89.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

Cappuccino

$3.06 MZN 193

$2.03 ฿67.9

50.74%

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

$1.20 MZN 75.7

$0.80 ฿26.71

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MZN 51.3

$0.35 ฿11.71

131.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 MZN 79.8

$2.14 ฿71.7

-41.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 MZN 126

$3.67 ฿123

-45.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MZN 108

$1.73 ฿57.8

-1.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 MZN 57.9

$1.57 ฿52.5

-41.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MZN 96.1

$1.20 ฿40.10

26.67%

Eggs

$1.71 MZN 108

$1.97 ฿66.0

-13.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 MZN 199

$3.06 ฿102

2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 MZN 300

$10.80 ฿361

-56.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MZN 171

$2.77 ฿92.6

-2.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MZN 122

$1.17 ฿39.05

65.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MZN 127

$1.71 ฿57.1

17.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 MZN 135

$1.59 ฿53.3

33.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 MZN 60.6

$1.39 ฿46.63

-30.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 MZN 51.8

$1.16 ฿38.67

-29.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 MZN 85.4

$0.66 ฿22.11

104.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MZN 44.32

$0.52 ฿17.35

34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.92 MZN 57.9

$4.65 ฿155

-80.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 MZN 519

$17.78 ฿595

-53.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MZN 59.7

$1.79 ฿59.8

-47.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 MZN 177

$3.34 ฿112

-16.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

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

$14.01 ฿469

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Beira: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Beira vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $244, with Beira cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Beira and Chiang Mai differ by about 212% in total monthly costs ($273 vs $852 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $410 in Beira and $1,279 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 Beira – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $273 per month in Beira versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 212% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Beira gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Beira 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 Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.