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 $723 per month in Berkane vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Berkane vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,524 per month in Berkane vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Berkane is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Berkane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Berkane 47% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.41 MAD 60.7
$2.08 ฿69.3
208.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.33 MAD 164
$19.61 ฿653
-11.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.09 MAD 57.7
$5.67 ฿189
7.41%
Cappuccino
$1.90 MAD 18.00
$1.81 ฿60.1
4.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.44
$0.77 ฿25.56
-25.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.26
$0.35 ฿11.49
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.15 MAD 39.33
$2.21 ฿73.7
87.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MAD 32.16
$3.79 ฿126
-10.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 8.15
$2.05 ฿68.1
-58.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 MAD 5.07
$1.51 ฿50.4
-64.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MAD 15.95
$1.40 ฿46.54
20.00%
Eggs
$1.93 MAD 18.28
$2.26 ฿75.1
-14.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 MAD 67.5
$16.19 ฿539
-56.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 MAD 59.4
$2.90 ฿96.4
116.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.50 MAD 99.5
$9.42 ฿313
11.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.54 MAD 14.55
$2.68 ฿89.1
-42.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MAD 12.93
$1.09 ฿36.25
25.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.85 MAD 8.02
$1.62 ฿53.8
-47.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.55
$1.46 ฿48.58
-45.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 7.04
$1.28 ฿42.51
-42.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.55
$1.06 ฿35.19
-24.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 MAD 3.89
$0.72 ฿23.86
-43.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.51
$0.53 ฿17.50
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MAD 38.62
$4.23 ฿141
-3.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 MAD 75.6
$18.29 ฿609
-56.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 MAD 24.13
$1.63 ฿54.2
56.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 MAD 25.13
$2.90 ฿96.5
-8.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 MAD 4.60
$0.88 ฿29.22
-44.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.86 MAD 179
$53.8 ฿1,789
-64.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 MAD 6.67
$1.17 ฿39.02
-40.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 MAD 6.61
$0.58 ฿19.24
20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 MAD 46.15
$2.39 ฿79.4
103.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 MAD 15.37
$1.45 ฿48.25
11.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K MAD 329.8K
$21.0K ฿699.1K
65.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MAD 301.7K
$26.4K ฿879.1K
20.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.11 MAD 380
$63.7 ฿2,118
-36.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.37 MAD 98.3
$12.89 ฿429
-19.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.56 MAD 346
$20.52 ฿683
78.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.22 MAD 248
$39.02 ฿1,298
-32.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.42 MAD 203
$3.92 ฿130
446.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.97 MAD 56.6
$6.58 ฿219
-9.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$88.5 MAD 839
$784 ฿26.1K
-88.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,945 MAD 56.3K
$14.7K ฿488.2K
-59.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.84 MAD 311
$55.1 ฿1,834
-40.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.53 MAD 469
$24.74 ฿823
100.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MAD 759
$94.1 ฿3,132
-14.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.2 MAD 627
$74.0 ฿2,461
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 MAD 2,595
$490 ฿16.3K
-44.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 MAD 1,605
$288 ฿9,588
-41.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 MAD 4,547
$891 ฿29.7K
-46.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 MAD 2,580
$521 ฿17.3K
-47.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,036 MAD 9,817
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-47.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$721 MAD 6,826
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-50.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 MAD 2,630
$602 ฿20.0K
-53.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
5.57
-18.85%

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

Last update for Berkane: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Berkane versus $490 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 117% 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 $17.00 in Berkane versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $241 – making Berkane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 29%, 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 $1,085 per month in Berkane and $1,398 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 in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Berkane and $20.00 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 and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $723 in Berkane and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Berkane or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Berkane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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.

Berkane vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities