Cost of Living Comparison Between Belfast, ME and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Belfast, ME and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,553 per month in Belfast, ME vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,778 per month in Belfast, ME vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,004 per month in Belfast, ME vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Belfast, ME costs about 200% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Belfast, ME sits 91% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.75 $18.75

$1.96 ฿64.0

856.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$18.81 ฿615

291.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$7.92 ฿259

39.52%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$1.91 ฿62.6

170.16%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$0.84 ฿27.41

194.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.35 ฿11.51

465.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.99 $5.99

$2.21 ฿72.1

171.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$3.80 ฿124

86.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.64 ฿53.5

-37.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.62 ฿53.1

121.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.18 ฿38.62

261.86%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$2.01 ฿65.8

107.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$15.89 ฿520

-22.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 $11.63

$3.01 ฿98.5

286.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.71 $15.71

$10.77 ฿352

45.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.61 ฿85.5

87.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.22 ฿39.88

33.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.70 ฿55.7

155.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.58 ฿51.5

207.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.32 ฿43.14

110.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.17 ฿38.23

148.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.67 ฿21.98

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$0.56 ฿18.32

278.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 $9.35

$4.53 ฿148

106.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$18.20 ฿595

-17.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.83 ฿60.0

-2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.23 ฿106

1.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.89 ฿29.00

125.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.35 ฿44.20

154.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.35 ฿44.05

23.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

$8.25 ฿270

258.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.27 ฿41.64

-33.07%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$21.2K ฿691.8K

40.63%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$22.5K ฿735.3K

14.44%

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

$187 $187

$70.2 ฿2,294

166.00%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$13.77 ฿450

285.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$17.60 ฿575

290.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 $42.92

$41.57 ฿1,360

3.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$13.28 $13.28

$5.78 ฿189

129.76%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$306 ฿10.0K

323.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

58.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 $51.2

$54.4 ฿1,778

-5.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.17 $40.17

$26.14 ฿855

53.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$84.5 ฿2,764

2.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$69.4 ฿2,270

60.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 $1,626

$424 ฿13.9K

283.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$238 ฿7,788

468.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 $2,673

$825 ฿27.0K

224.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 $2,180

$515 ฿16.8K

323.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$2,049 ฿67.0K

31.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,334 $2,334

$1,523 ฿49.8K

53.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

30.20%

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

Last update for Belfast, ME: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,626 in Belfast, ME 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 $74.0 in Belfast, ME versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

Belfast, ME vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Belfast, ME is pricier by about 200%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,830 per month in Belfast, ME and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,553 in Belfast, ME and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,297 per month in Belfast, ME and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Belfast, ME at $2,553. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belfast, ME it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belfast, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.