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: $271 in Beira versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $521 in Beira versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $770 in Beira versus $1,857 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 80% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 MZN 491

$1.96 ฿64.0

292.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.79 MZN 2,279

$18.81 ฿615

90.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$3.09 MZN 197

$1.91 ฿62.6

61.78%

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

$1.19 MZN 75.6

$0.84 ฿27.41

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MZN 52.1

$0.35 ฿11.51

134.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 MZN 77.6

$2.21 ฿72.1

-44.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MZN 125

$3.80 ฿124

-48.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MZN 109

$1.64 ฿53.5

4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 MZN 58.0

$1.62 ฿53.1

-43.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MZN 97.2

$1.18 ฿38.62

29.66%

Eggs

$1.77 MZN 113

$2.01 ฿65.8

-11.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 MZN 201

$3.01 ฿98.5

4.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 MZN 302

$10.77 ฿352

-55.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MZN 172

$2.61 ฿85.5

3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 MZN 125

$1.22 ฿39.88

61.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MZN 127

$1.70 ฿55.7

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 MZN 136

$1.58 ฿51.5

34.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 MZN 63.2

$1.32 ฿43.14

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MZN 50.9

$1.17 ฿38.23

-31.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 MZN 86.6

$0.67 ฿21.98

102.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MZN 48.33

$0.56 ฿18.32

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.96 MZN 61.4

$4.53 ฿148

-78.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.13 MZN 518

$18.20 ฿595

-55.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MZN 64.8

$1.83 ฿60.0

-44.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MZN 176

$3.23 ฿106

-14.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Beira: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Beira vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $159 vs $243, 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 214% in total monthly costs ($271 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 $407 in Beira and $1,278 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 $271 per month in Beira versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 214% 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 214% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.