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 $1,138 per month in Belmopan vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,612 per month in Belmopan vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,086 per month in Belmopan vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Belmopan costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Belmopan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Belmopan 15% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 BZD 9.72

$1.96 ฿65.7

147.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 BZD 33.58

$18.35 ฿616

-8.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 BZD 14.52

$7.48 ฿251

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$4.42 BZD 8.83

$2.02 ฿67.7

118.81%

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

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$0.85 ฿28.45

-8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.95

$0.36 ฿11.94

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 BZD 2.92

$2.14 ฿71.7

-31.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.41

$3.59 ฿121

-38.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BZD 4.02

$1.65 ฿55.4

21.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 BZD 3.20

$1.57 ฿52.6

1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.33

$1.19 ฿39.95

39.50%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.77

$1.94 ฿65.0

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 BZD 18.06

$16.19 ฿544

-44.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 BZD 13.46

$2.99 ฿100

125.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 BZD 24.07

$10.94 ฿367

9.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 BZD 2.16

$1.17 ฿39.18

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$1.69 ฿56.6

31.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 BZD 10.77

$1.60 ฿53.9

236.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 BZD 3.02

$0.56 ฿18.70

169.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 BZD 34.49

$17.62 ฿591

-2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 BZD 4.60

$1.86 ฿62.4

23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$3.30 ฿111

-30.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

$0.88 ฿29.63

357.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 BZD 6.03

$1.36 ฿45.82

121.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$1.34 ฿44.90

119.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 BZD 3.52

$1.22 ฿41.11

44.26%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

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

$148 BZD 296

$70.7 ฿2,372

109.49%

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

$50.6 BZD 101

$14.04 ฿471

260.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.36 BZD 72.7

$17.49 ฿587

107.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.80 BZD 89.6

$42.15 ฿1,415

6.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$8.99 BZD 17.99

$5.92 ฿199

51.86%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.37 BZD 78.8

$55.8 ฿1,872

-29.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 BZD 44.43

$26.11 ฿877

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.17 BZD 98.4

$83.0 ฿2,787

-40.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 BZD 125

$70.5 ฿2,365

-10.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 BZD 893

$432 ฿14.5K

3.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BZD 640

$239 ฿8,020

33.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 BZD 1,090

$512 ฿17.2K

6.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Belmopan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Belmopan versus $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Belmopan vs $243 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: $1,138 in Belmopan, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 32% apart. Belmopan costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,707 per month in Belmopan and $1,292 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 $18.00 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 $1,138 in Belmopan and $861 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 $861, than in Belmopan at $1,138. 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 $861 in Chiang Mai to $1,138 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.