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 $1,058 per month in Belmopan vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Belmopan vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,027 per month in Belmopan vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Belmopan costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Belmopan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Belmopan 23% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 BZD 15.38

$2.08 ฿69.2

269.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.39 BZD 34.79

$19.64 ฿651

-11.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 BZD 14.84

$5.65 ฿188

31.33%

Cappuccino

$5.38 BZD 10.76

$1.81 ฿59.9

197.24%

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

$0.64 BZD 1.29

$0.71 ฿23.66

-9.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.96

$0.32 ฿10.48

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 BZD 2.89

$2.24 ฿74.2

-35.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$3.63 ฿121

-38.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 BZD 4.75

$1.96 ฿65.0

20.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 BZD 3.35

$1.50 ฿49.83

12.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 BZD 3.36

$1.34 ฿44.32

25.37%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.78

$2.26 ฿75.1

-16.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 BZD 17.61

$16.26 ฿539

-45.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 BZD 13.36

$2.95 ฿98.0

126.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.23 BZD 24.47

$9.94 ฿330

23.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 BZD 2.23

$1.06 ฿35.04

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 BZD 4.48

$1.61 ฿53.5

39.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 BZD 10.71

$1.52 ฿50.4

251.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.34 BZD 34.69

$17.87 ฿593

-2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 BZD 4.46

$1.69 ฿56.2

31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 BZD 4.51

$2.84 ฿94.1

-20.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

$0.93 ฿30.70

333.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 BZD 6.56

$1.23 ฿40.95

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 BZD 8.06

$0.58 ฿19.13

594.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 BZD 3.67

$1.41 ฿46.84

30.50%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

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

$151 BZD 301

$63.7 ฿2,112

136.39%

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

$49.74 BZD 99.5

$12.85 ฿426

287.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.59 BZD 77.2

$20.22 ฿671

90.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.71 BZD 89.4

$38.74 ฿1,285

15.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$9.09 BZD 18.18

$6.74 ฿223

34.87%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 BZD 914

$490 ฿16.2K

-6.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 BZD 638

$289 ฿9,596

10.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 BZD 1,109

$517 ฿17.1K

7.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Belmopan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Belmopan versus $490 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Belmopan vs $240 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: $1,058 in Belmopan, $947 in Chiang Mai – roughly 12% apart. Belmopan costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in Belmopan and $1,421 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 $20.00 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 $1,058 in Belmopan and $947 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 $947, than in Belmopan at $1,058. 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 $947 in Chiang Mai to $1,058 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.