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 $732 per month in Berkane vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,146 per month in Berkane vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,561 per month in Berkane vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Berkane is about 16% 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 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 MAD 38.98
$1.98 ฿64.3
112.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29 MAD 215
$18.80 ฿612
23.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.75 MAD 62.4
$7.75 ฿252
-12.90%
Cappuccino
$1.66 MAD 15.33
$1.92 ฿62.5
-13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.42
$0.79 ฿25.79
-25.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 MAD 3.00
$0.36 ฿11.62
-11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.94 MAD 36.48
$2.21 ฿72.1
78.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 MAD 33.98
$3.66 ฿119
0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.61
$1.65 ฿53.8
-50.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 MAD 4.87
$1.63 ฿53.2
-67.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 MAD 16.26
$1.19 ฿38.86
47.90%
Eggs
$1.92 MAD 17.74
$2.00 ฿65.1
-4.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 MAD 92.2
$15.98 ฿520
-37.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 MAD 56.2
$3.03 ฿98.5
100.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 MAD 101
$10.86 ฿354
0.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 MAD 12.57
$2.76 ฿90.0
-50.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 MAD 11.95
$1.18 ฿38.42
9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 7.65
$1.64 ฿53.5
-49.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.24
$1.52 ฿49.51
-48.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.27
$1.38 ฿45.10
-50.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.05
$1.19 ฿38.84
-36.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.65
$0.70 ฿22.86
-44.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.50
$0.56 ฿18.13
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 MAD 38.11
$4.58 ฿149
-10.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.34 MAD 77.2
$16.56 ฿539
-49.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 MAD 23.93
$1.83 ฿59.5
41.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MAD 25.42
$3.20 ฿104
-14.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MAD 4.73
$0.88 ฿28.56
-42.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.58 MAD 153
$18.72 ฿610
-11.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 MAD 5.75
$1.36 ฿44.16
-54.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MAD 4.41
$1.34 ฿43.65
-64.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MAD 40.41
$7.84 ฿256
-44.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 MAD 14.84
$1.23 ฿39.92
30.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K MAD 339.9K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
69.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K MAD 271.0K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
29.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.81 MAD 331
$70.5 ฿2,298
-49.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.11 MAD 103
$13.68 ฿445
-18.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.24 MAD 372
$17.45 ฿568
130.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.23 MAD 224
$41.33 ฿1,346
-41.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04 MAD 213
$6.96 ฿227
231.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MAD 59.2
$5.77 ฿188
10.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 MAD 983
$307 ฿10.0K
-65.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,551 MAD 32.9K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-75.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.87 MAD 360
$55.8 ฿1,817
-30.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 MAD 375
$26.21 ฿854
54.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 MAD 804
$85.8 ฿2,793
1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 MAD 648
$72.2 ฿2,353
-3.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MAD 2,621
$430 ฿14.0K
-34.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 MAD 1,603
$239 ฿7,774
-27.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 MAD 4,608
$817 ฿26.6K
-39.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 MAD 2,848
$511 ฿16.6K
-39.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,480 MAD 13.7K
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-25.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$914 MAD 8,453
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-38.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 MAD 2,583
$619 ฿20.2K
-54.87%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Berkane versus $430 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 122% 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 $23.00 in Berkane versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Berkane vs $241 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 19%, 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 $1,097 per month in Berkane and $1,303 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 $23.00 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 $732 in Berkane and $869 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 $732 in Berkane and $869 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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