Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bella Vista and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Bella Vista: $188 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bella Vista
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$188
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bella Vista and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bella Vista and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $188 per month in Bella Vista vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bella Vista $188
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $306 per month in Bella Vista vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bella Vista $306
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $425 per month in Bella Vista vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Bella Vista $425
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Bella Vista is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bella Vista and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bella Vista 86% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ₲11.1K
$2.29 ฿76.5
-14.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.38 ₲76.1K
$19.64 ฿656
-31.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.61 ฿188
-
Cappuccino
$2.02 ₲11.5K
$1.66 ฿55.6
21.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₲5,812
$0.70 ฿23.40
45.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.31 ฿10.24
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41 ฿80.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₲8,406
$3.71 ฿124
-60.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 ₲4,609
$1.95 ฿65.3
-58.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 ₲2,725
$1.41 ฿47.03
-65.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₲5,783
$1.31 ฿43.62
-22.14%
Eggs
$2.12 ₲12.0K
$2.18 ฿72.9
-2.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 ₲34.3K
$16.65 ฿556
-63.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.94 ₲16.7K
$2.76 ฿92.2
6.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.11 ฿304
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.39 ฿80.0
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 ₲3,850
$1.03 ฿34.26
-33.98%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.50 ฿50.0
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.29 ฿43.13
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.11 ฿37.03
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.72 ฿24.08
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₲5,572
$0.53 ฿17.59
84.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.97 ₲5,517
$4.31 ฿144
-77.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.92 ₲28.0K
$17.95 ฿600
-72.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₲4,774
$1.58 ฿52.9
-46.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₲10.1K
$2.84 ฿95.0
-37.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.86 ฿28.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.21 ฿40.29
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.57 ฿18.99
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.35 ฿78.6
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.44 ฿47.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.7K ฿692.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$17.77 ₲101.1K
$62.3 ฿2,083
-71.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.05 ₲68.5K
$12.11 ฿405
-0.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.95 ₲113.5K
$19.94 ฿666
0.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.07 ฿1,239
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.50 ฿217
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$793 ฿26.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.7 ฿1,796
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.62 ฿823
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.9 ฿3,036
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.1 ฿2,378
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$455 ฿15.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$298 ฿9,954
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$908 ฿30.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$554 ฿18.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bella Vista
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$374 ₲2.1M
$591 ฿19.7K
-36.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Bella Vista: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$298
Groceries & Markets
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$235
Clothing & Footwear
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$79
Getting Around
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Bella Vista
–
Chiang Mai
$50

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 58% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Bella Vista versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $92.0 vs $235 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇾 Bella Vista
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:53 7:53 AM
17:53 5:53 PM
10 h ahead of Bella Vista
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,653
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PYG – Paraguayan Guarani Converter

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bella Vista Chiang Mai 17,440 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bella Vista
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bella Vista vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bella Vista or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 391% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Bella Vista and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $283 per month in Bella Vista and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Bella Vista compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $188 in Bella Vista and $925 in Chiang Mai. That's a gap of about 391%.
Are groceries more expensive in Bella Vista or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 157% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bella Vista or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $188, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bella Vista or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $188 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bella Vista 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 Bella Vista or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. 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.

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