🙂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 – Berkane46% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21MAD 38.98
$1.98฿64.3
112.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29MAD 215
$18.80฿612
23.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75MAD 62.4
$7.75฿252
-12.90%
Cappuccino
$1.66MAD 15.33
$1.92฿62.5
-13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.42
$0.79฿25.79
-25.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 3.00
$0.36฿11.62
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94MAD 36.48
$2.21฿72.1
78.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67MAD 33.98
$3.66฿119
0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.61
$1.65฿53.8
-50.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MAD 4.87
$1.63฿53.2
-67.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76MAD 16.26
$1.19฿38.86
47.90%
Eggs
$1.92MAD 17.74
$2.00฿65.1
-4.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96MAD 92.2
$15.98฿520
-37.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07MAD 56.2
$3.03฿98.5
100.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.96MAD 101
$10.86฿354
0.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36MAD 12.57
$2.76฿90.0
-50.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29MAD 11.95
$1.18฿38.42
9.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83MAD 7.65
$1.64฿53.5
-49.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.24
$1.52฿49.51
-48.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.27
$1.38฿45.10
-50.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.05
$1.19฿38.84
-36.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.65
$0.70฿22.86
-44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.50
$0.56฿18.13
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MAD 38.11
$4.58฿149
-10.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.34MAD 77.2
$16.56฿539
-49.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59MAD 23.93
$1.83฿59.5
41.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75MAD 25.42
$3.20฿104
-14.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.73
$0.88฿28.56
-42.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.58MAD 153
$18.72฿610
-11.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62MAD 5.75
$1.36฿44.16
-54.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.41
$1.34฿43.65
-64.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MAD 40.41
$7.84฿256
-44.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60MAD 14.84
$1.23฿39.92
30.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7KMAD 339.9K
$21.6K฿704.3K
69.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMAD 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)
$35.81MAD 331
$70.5฿2,298
-49.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.11MAD 103
$13.68฿445
-18.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.24MAD 372
$17.45฿568
130.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.23MAD 224
$41.33฿1,346
-41.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04MAD 213
$6.96฿227
231.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MAD 59.2
$5.77฿188
10.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106MAD 983
$307฿10.0K
-65.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,551MAD 32.9K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.87MAD 360
$55.8฿1,817
-30.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55MAD 375
$26.21฿854
54.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9MAD 804
$85.8฿2,793
1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1MAD 648
$72.2฿2,353
-3.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MAD 2,621
$430฿14.0K
-34.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,603
$239฿7,774
-27.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498MAD 4,608
$817฿26.6K
-39.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$308MAD 2,848
$511฿16.6K
-39.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,480MAD 13.7K
$1,983฿64.6K
-25.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$914MAD 8,453
$1,484฿48.3K
-38.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279MAD 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.