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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $729 per month in Berkane vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Berkane vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,506 per month in Berkane vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Berkane is about 14% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Berkane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Berkane 46% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 MAD 38.90
$1.96 ฿63.6
114.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.87 MAD 221
$18.81 ฿611
26.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.61 MAD 61.1
$7.92 ฿258
-16.54%
Cappuccino
$1.66 MAD 15.31
$1.91 ฿62.2
-13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.87
$0.84 ฿27.25
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 MAD 2.99
$0.35 ฿11.44
-8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 MAD 34.72
$2.21 ฿71.7
69.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MAD 34.00
$3.80 ฿124
-3.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 MAD 7.65
$1.64 ฿53.2
-49.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 MAD 4.57
$1.62 ฿52.8
-69.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 MAD 16.16
$1.18 ฿38.40
48.31%
Eggs
$1.97 MAD 18.23
$2.01 ฿65.4
-1.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 MAD 91.4
$15.89 ฿517
-37.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.21 MAD 57.5
$3.01 ฿98.0
106.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MAD 103
$10.77 ฿350
3.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.77
$2.61 ฿85.0
-47.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 MAD 12.09
$1.22 ฿39.65
7.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 MAD 7.75
$1.70 ฿55.4
-50.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.48
$1.58 ฿51.2
-48.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 MAD 6.78
$1.32 ฿42.89
-44.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.06
$1.17 ฿38.01
-35.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.62
$0.67 ฿21.85
-41.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.46
$0.56 ฿18.21
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 MAD 39.17
$4.53 ฿147
-6.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 MAD 72.9
$18.20 ฿592
-56.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 MAD 25.18
$1.83 ฿59.6
48.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 MAD 26.15
$3.23 ฿105
-12.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 MAD 4.33
$0.89 ฿28.83
-47.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.46 MAD 152
$19.38 ฿630
-15.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 MAD 5.83
$1.35 ฿43.95
-53.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MAD 4.72
$1.35 ฿43.79
-62.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 MAD 41.39
$8.25 ฿268
-45.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MAD 14.22
$1.27 ฿41.40
21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K MAD 350.0K
$21.2K ฿687.8K
78.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K MAD 273.2K
$22.5K ฿731.0K
31.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.99 MAD 333
$70.2 ฿2,281
-48.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 MAD 102
$13.77 ฿448
-20.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.00 MAD 370
$17.60 ฿572
127.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.14 MAD 223
$41.57 ฿1,352
-41.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.79 MAD 211
$6.60 ฿215
245.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 MAD 61.2
$5.78 ฿188
14.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$105 MAD 976
$306 ฿9,953
-65.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,557 MAD 32.9K
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-76.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.43 MAD 355
$54.4 ฿1,768
-29.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MAD 369
$26.14 ฿850
52.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 MAD 793
$84.5 ฿2,748
1.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4 MAD 660
$69.4 ฿2,257
2.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 MAD 2,578
$424 ฿13.8K
-34.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 MAD 1,609
$238 ฿7,743
-26.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$497 MAD 4,600
$825 ฿26.8K
-39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 MAD 2,774
$515 ฿16.7K
-41.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,809 MAD 16.7K
$2,049 ฿66.6K
-11.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$873 MAD 8,075
$1,523 ฿49.5K
-42.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$275 MAD 2,547
$635 ฿20.6K
-56.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.78
5
-4.40%

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

Last update for Berkane: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Berkane versus $424 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.

Salaries run about 131% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Berkane versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Berkane vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Berkane 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
Berkane vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Berkane?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,093 per month in Berkane and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Berkane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Berkane or Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Berkane and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Berkane vs Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $729 in Berkane and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Berkane or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $729 in Berkane and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Berkane or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Berkane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Berkane or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Berkane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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