🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $272 in Beira versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $521 in Beira versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $769 in Beira versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Beira costs roughly 69% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beira80% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.63MZN 482
$1.98฿64.3
285.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.22MZN 2,227
$18.80฿612
87.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.75฿252
-
Cappuccino
$3.06MZN 193
$1.92฿62.5
59.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19MZN 75.1
$0.79฿25.79
50.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76MZN 47.99
$0.36฿11.62
111.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26MZN 79.8
$2.21฿72.1
-42.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MZN 120
$3.66฿119
-48.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66MZN 105
$1.65฿53.8
0.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98MZN 61.7
$1.63฿53.2
-39.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60MZN 101
$1.19฿38.86
34.45%
Eggs
$1.74MZN 110
$2.00฿65.1
-13.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.98฿520
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.16MZN 200
$3.03฿98.5
4.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.80MZN 304
$10.86฿354
-55.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MZN 173
$2.76฿90.0
-1.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91MZN 121
$1.18฿38.42
61.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MZN 124
$1.64฿53.5
19.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14MZN 135
$1.52฿49.51
40.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MZN 60.0
$1.38฿45.10
-31.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77MZN 48.49
$1.19฿38.84
-35.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29MZN 81.9
$0.70฿22.86
84.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72MZN 45.51
$0.56฿18.13
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.97MZN 61.1
$4.58฿149
-78.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99MZN 505
$16.56฿539
-51.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00MZN 63.0
$1.83฿59.5
-45.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70MZN 171
$3.20฿104
-15.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.36฿44.16
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿43.65
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.23฿39.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.6K฿704.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿734.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.5฿2,298
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.68฿445
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.45฿568
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.77฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$307฿10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,817
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.21฿854
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.8฿2,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.2฿2,353
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beira
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beira: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Beira vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $241, 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Beira and Chiang Mai?
Beira and Chiang Mai differ by about 219% in total monthly costs ($272 vs $869 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Beira compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $408 in Beira and $1,303 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Beira – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Beira or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $272 per month in Beira versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 219% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Beira vs Chiang Mai?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Beira and Chiang Mai?
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.
Is Beira or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Beira or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 219% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.