Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,116 per month in Belmopan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,610 per month in Belmopan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,105 per month in Belmopan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Belmopan costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Belmopan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Belmopan 17% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 BZD 9.37

$1.94 ฿63.5

141.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.86 BZD 33.73

$18.64 ฿609

-9.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 BZD 15.06

$7.82 ฿255

-3.71%

Cappuccino

$4.54 BZD 9.07

$1.95 ฿63.8

132.82%

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

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$0.85 ฿27.77

-8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 BZD 1.04

$0.35 ฿11.58

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 BZD 2.90

$2.13 ฿69.6

-31.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$3.73 ฿122

-38.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 BZD 4.15

$1.71 ฿56.0

21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 BZD 3.18

$1.63 ฿53.2

-2.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.31

$1.14 ฿37.15

45.61%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.79

$1.93 ฿63.1

-2.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BZD 17.25

$16.21 ฿530

-46.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 BZD 13.13

$3.12 ฿102

110.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BZD 24.52

$10.90 ฿356

12.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 BZD 2.25

$1.21 ฿39.52

-6.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 BZD 4.35

$1.62 ฿53.0

33.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 BZD 11.31

$1.59 ฿51.8

255.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 BZD 2.89

$0.53 ฿17.22

173.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 BZD 35.56

$18.66 ฿609

-4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 BZD 4.44

$1.80 ฿58.8

23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.40

$3.23 ฿106

-31.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.97 BZD 7.95

$0.90 ฿29.26

341.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 BZD 6.15

$1.41 ฿45.91

118.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$1.29 ฿42.12

127.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 BZD 3.57

$1.27 ฿41.58

40.94%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$152 BZD 303

$69.1 ฿2,256

119.37%

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

$50.8 BZD 102

$14.08 ฿460

260.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.47 BZD 73.0

$18.00 ฿588

102.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.07 BZD 88.2

$41.06 ฿1,341

7.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 BZD 18.39

$5.92 ฿193

55.24%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.52 BZD 79.1

$54.7 ฿1,787

-27.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.11 BZD 44.23

$26.77 ฿874

-17.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.1 BZD 100

$85.0 ฿2,776

-41.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 BZD 126

$70.6 ฿2,306

-10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 BZD 906

$428 ฿14.0K

5.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 BZD 635

$237 ฿7,752

33.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 BZD 1,075

$515 ฿16.8K

4.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Belmopan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Belmopan versus $428 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 Belmopan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Belmopan vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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

Belmopan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,116 in Belmopan, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 29% apart. Belmopan costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Belmopan and $1,300 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Belmopan and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,116 in Belmopan and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Belmopan at $1,116. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belmopan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,116 in Belmopan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Belmopan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.