😐A single person spends $1,054 per month in Belle Rose vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,706 per month in Belle Rose vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,359 per month in Belle Rose vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Belle Rose costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Belle Rose and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Belle Rose24% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.90MUR 276
$2.10฿69.3
180.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.30MUR 1,792
$19.84฿656
93.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.37MUR 345
$5.79฿191
27.29%
Cappuccino
$2.66MUR 125
$1.83฿60.4
45.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14MUR 53.4
$0.78฿25.61
46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67MUR 31.24
$0.31฿10.37
116.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63MUR 123
$2.34฿77.2
12.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93MUR 184
$3.70฿122
6.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50MUR 70.1
$2.03฿67.1
-26.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MUR 36.93
$1.60฿52.7
-50.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MUR 54.2
$1.42฿46.75
-18.31%
Eggs
$2.33MUR 109
$2.18฿71.9
6.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.15MUR 241
$15.91฿526
-67.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36MUR 297
$3.07฿102
107.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38MUR 532
$9.87฿326
15.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MUR 96.7
$2.63฿86.8
-21.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35MUR 110
$1.10฿36.19
113.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41MUR 65.9
$1.63฿53.8
-13.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94MUR 138
$1.53฿50.6
92.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MUR 43.75
$1.24฿41.13
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.24
$1.13฿37.37
-15.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MUR 34.88
$0.74฿24.38
1.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84MUR 39.13
$0.50฿16.48
68.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.63MUR 310
$4.28฿141
54.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.71MUR 408
$17.97฿594
-51.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MUR 77.5
$1.70฿56.1
-2.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27MUR 106
$2.90฿95.7
-21.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.22MUR 198
$1.23฿40.76
243.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.14MUR 147
$0.53฿17.66
492.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.62MUR 1,012
$2.40฿79.3
800.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MUR 64.8
$1.44฿47.55
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KMUR 1.5M
$21.2K฿700.2K
54.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMUR 1.5M
$27.3K฿902.1K
14.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.58MUR 2,133
$64.9฿2,145
-29.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73MUR 502
$13.35฿441
-19.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73MUR 1,345
$20.83฿688
37.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.76MUR 1,627
$40.42฿1,336
-14.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.55MUR 306
$6.71฿222
-2.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130MUR 6,075
$787฿26.0K
-83.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,755MUR 362.9K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-48.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4MUR 3,246
$56.2฿1,858
23.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.1MUR 3,233
$24.95฿824
176.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113MUR 5,290
$92.7฿3,063
21.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7MUR 3,636
$75.1฿2,482
3.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574MUR 26.9K
$484฿16.0K
18.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392MUR 18.3K
$287฿9,491
36.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125MUR 52.7K
$910฿30.1K
23.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$833MUR 39.0K
$531฿17.5K
56.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belle Rose
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
5.57
13.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belle Rose: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Belle Rose versus $484 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 $38.00 in Belle Rose versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Belle Rose vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Belle Rose wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Belle Rose vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Belle Rose?
Yes – Belle Rose is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,581 per month in Belle Rose and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Belle Rose or in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Belle Rose and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Belle Rose and in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Belle Rose – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Belle Rose or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Belle Rose at $1,054. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belle Rose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Belle Rose or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Belle Rose or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belle Rose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Belle Rose vs other spots: cost of living compared