😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,337 in Belvaux versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $788 in Belvaux versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $239 in Belvaux versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Belvaux is roughly 57% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Belvaux is 0% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.96฿64.0
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.81฿615
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.92฿259
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.91฿62.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.84฿27.41
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35฿11.51
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿72.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.80฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.64฿53.5
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.62฿53.1
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.18฿38.62
-
Eggs
-
$2.01฿65.8
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.89฿520
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.01฿98.5
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.77฿352
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.61฿85.5
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.22฿39.88
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.70฿55.7
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.58฿51.5
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.32฿43.14
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.23
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.67฿21.98
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56฿18.32
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.53฿148
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿595
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿60.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿29.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.35฿44.20
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35฿44.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25฿270
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.27฿41.64
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿691.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿735.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.2฿2,294
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.04€29.99
$13.77฿450
154.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.1€78.0
$17.60฿575
417.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.04€34.28
$41.57฿1,360
-3.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.78฿189
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306฿10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿484.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.4฿1,778
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.14฿855
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.5฿2,764
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$69.4฿2,270
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172€1,003
$238฿7,788
391.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿27.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belvaux
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,095€5,218
$635฿20.8K
859.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belvaux: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Belvaux pays 860% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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
Belvaux vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Belvaux or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Belvaux. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Belvaux or Chiang Mai?
Belvaux pays 860% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Can you live on $800/month in Belvaux or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Belvaux or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Belvaux compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Belvaux and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Belvaux. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.