🙂A single person spends $631 per month in Beja vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,080 per month in Beja vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,529 per month in Beja vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Beja is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Beja and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Beja53% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98TND 11.60
$1.98฿64.3
101.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.89TND 49.26
$18.80฿612
-10.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.93TND 14.38
$7.75฿252
-36.39%
Cappuccino
$0.70TND 2.04
$1.92฿62.5
-63.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52TND 1.51
$0.79฿25.79
-34.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.73
$0.36฿11.62
-30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.40
$2.21฿72.1
-47.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58TND 4.61
$3.66฿119
-56.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.47TND 1.36
$1.65฿53.8
-71.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14TND 0.41
$1.63฿53.2
-91.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30TND 3.80
$1.19฿38.86
9.24%
Eggs
$1.67TND 4.87
$2.00฿65.1
-16.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.86TND 20.01
$15.98฿520
-57.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.66TND 16.51
$3.03฿98.5
86.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.81TND 40.29
$10.86฿354
27.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57TND 4.59
$2.76฿90.0
-43.12%
Banana(1kg)
$3.15TND 9.18
$1.18฿38.42
166.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97TND 2.82
$1.64฿53.5
-40.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62TND 1.81
$1.52฿49.51
-59.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.91
$1.38฿45.10
-52.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59TND 1.73
$1.19฿38.84
-50.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40TND 1.17
$0.70฿22.86
-42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.84
$0.56฿18.13
-48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54TND 10.34
$4.58฿149
-22.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.27TND 15.36
$16.56฿539
-68.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20TND 3.49
$1.83฿59.5
-34.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08TND 3.16
$3.20฿104
-66.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40TND 1.15
$0.88฿28.56
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08TND 29.40
$18.72฿610
-46.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$1.36฿44.16
-76.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.97
$1.34฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.99TND 17.49
$7.84฿256
-23.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.35
$1.23฿39.92
-34.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.0KTND 140.2K
$21.6K฿704.3K
122.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KTND 104.0K
$22.5K฿734.3K
58.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2TND 149
$70.5฿2,298
-27.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.97TND 32.00
$13.68฿445
-19.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24TND 53.2
$17.45฿568
4.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.92TND 61.0
$41.33฿1,346
-49.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.13TND 70.4
$6.96฿227
246.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48TND 18.90
$5.77฿188
12.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.8TND 180
$307฿10.0K
-79.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,203TND 3,510
$14.6K฿475.9K
-91.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.51TND 124
$55.8฿1,817
-23.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7TND 180
$26.21฿854
135.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126TND 369
$85.8฿2,793
47.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.2TND 240
$72.2฿2,353
13.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201TND 586
$430฿14.0K
-53.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136TND 397
$239฿7,774
-43.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382TND 1,116
$817฿26.6K
-53.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402TND 1,172
$511฿16.6K
-21.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,025TND 2,990
$1,983฿64.6K
-48.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$629TND 1,834
$1,484฿48.3K
-57.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beja
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Beja versus $430 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: $169 vs $241 – 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 38% 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 $947 per month in Beja and $1,303 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 86% 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 $61.8 per month in Beja and $307 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 $631 in Beja and $869 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 $631 versus $869 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.