🙂A single person spends $649 per month in Beja vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,101 per month in Beja vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,552 per month in Beja vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Beja is about 24% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Beja and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Beja52% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.95TND 11.41
$1.96฿64.0
101.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.25TND 49.86
$18.81฿615
-8.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05TND 14.61
$7.92฿259
-36.24%
Cappuccino
$0.70TND 2.03
$1.91฿62.6
-63.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56TND 1.61
$0.84฿27.41
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23TND 0.66
$0.35฿11.51
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.35
$2.21฿72.1
-47.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59TND 4.58
$3.80฿124
-58.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.64฿53.5
-70.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14TND 0.40
$1.62฿53.1
-91.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26TND 3.65
$1.18฿38.62
6.78%
Eggs
$1.75TND 5.04
$2.01฿65.8
-12.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79TND 19.63
$15.89฿520
-57.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.56TND 16.07
$3.01฿98.5
84.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.74TND 39.71
$10.77฿352
27.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59TND 4.59
$2.61฿85.5
-39.08%
Banana(1kg)
$3.06TND 8.86
$1.22฿39.88
150.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99TND 2.86
$1.70฿55.7
-41.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.81
$1.58฿51.5
-60.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.90
$1.32฿43.14
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.83
$1.17฿38.23
-46.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40TND 1.17
$0.67฿21.98
-40.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.83
$0.56฿18.32
-48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58TND 10.34
$4.53฿148
-20.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.13TND 14.84
$18.20฿595
-71.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16TND 3.35
$1.83฿60.0
-36.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06TND 3.06
$3.23฿106
-67.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42TND 1.22
$0.89฿29.00
-52.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.96TND 28.80
$19.38฿634
-48.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34TND 0.99
$1.35฿44.20
-74.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34TND 0.97
$1.35฿44.05
-74.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.25TND 18.06
$8.25฿270
-24.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76TND 2.19
$1.27฿41.64
-40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.4KTND 134.0K
$21.2K฿691.8K
119.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9KTND 106.7K
$22.5K฿735.3K
64.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.6TND 146
$70.2฿2,294
-27.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.91TND 31.54
$13.77฿450
-20.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.29TND 52.9
$17.60฿575
3.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.36TND 61.7
$41.57฿1,360
-48.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.85TND 68.9
$6.60฿216
261.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.35TND 18.36
$5.78฿189
9.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.4TND 177
$306฿10.0K
-79.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,200TND 3,467
$14.8K฿484.8K
-91.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.13TND 119
$54.4฿1,778
-24.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3TND 174
$26.14฿855
130.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125TND 361
$84.5฿2,764
47.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9TND 242
$69.4฿2,270
20.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196TND 566
$424฿13.9K
-53.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138TND 399
$238฿7,788
-42.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383TND 1,108
$825฿27.0K
-53.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408TND 1,178
$515฿16.8K
-20.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$991TND 2,864
$2,049฿67.0K
-51.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$729TND 2,106
$1,523฿49.8K
-52.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beja: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Beja versus $424 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Beja versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $243 – making Beja 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
Beja vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beja or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Beja, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Beja vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $974 per month in Beja and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Beja or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Beja vs Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 95% less in Beja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Beja and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $61.4 per month in Beja and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Beja or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $649 in Beja and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beja or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beja costs $649 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Beja 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 Beja or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Beja. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.