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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $184 in Belvaux versus $920 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $226 in Belvaux versus $1,408 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $268 in Belvaux versus $1,895 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Belvaux costs roughly 80% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belvaux 87% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

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

$91.1 €77.9

$13.19 ฿433

590.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.1 €77.9

$19.44 ฿638

368.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

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

$805 ฿26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,172 €5,280

$592 ฿19.4K

942.50%

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 Belvaux: August 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Belvaux pays 942% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Belvaux wins on cost – living expenses run 399% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belvaux the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 942% higher in Belvaux, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

At $184 in Belvaux versus $920 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belvaux but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Belvaux the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Belvaux delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $184 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Belvaux hard to pass up.

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.

Expats usually find Belvaux gentler on the wallet – expenses run 399% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.