🙂A single person spends $724 per month in Berkane vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,128 per month in Berkane vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Berkane vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Berkane is about 15% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Berkane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Berkane46% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.16MAD 39.00
$2.04฿68.4
103.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.56MAD 221
$18.71฿626
25.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.69MAD 62.8
$7.86฿263
-14.89%
Cappuccino
$1.66MAD 15.59
$2.03฿67.9
-18.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.47
$0.80฿26.71
-27.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.07
$0.35฿11.71
-5.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.93MAD 36.92
$2.14฿71.7
83.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MAD 33.56
$3.67฿123
-2.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.19
$1.73฿57.8
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49MAD 4.64
$1.57฿52.5
-68.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78MAD 16.70
$1.20฿40.10
48.33%
Eggs
$1.94MAD 18.20
$1.97฿66.0
-1.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.17MAD 95.4
$16.23฿543
-37.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.95MAD 55.8
$3.06฿102
94.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.23MAD 105
$10.80฿361
3.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35MAD 12.69
$2.77฿92.6
-51.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MAD 12.60
$1.17฿39.05
14.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.22
$1.71฿57.1
-54.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85MAD 7.98
$1.59฿53.3
-46.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.35
$1.39฿46.63
-51.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.13
$1.16฿38.67
-34.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.97
$0.66฿22.11
-36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.44
$0.52฿17.35
11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13MAD 38.78
$4.65฿155
-11.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.09MAD 75.9
$17.78฿595
-54.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73MAD 25.57
$1.79฿59.8
52.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73MAD 25.66
$3.34฿112
-18.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48MAD 4.46
$0.91฿30.35
-47.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.20MAD 152
$18.64฿624
-13.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59MAD 5.52
$1.41฿47.17
-58.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.87
$1.34฿44.82
-61.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.51MAD 42.29
$8.11฿271
-44.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 14.30
$1.23฿41.27
23.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4KMAD 350.8K
$21.4K฿717.0K
74.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMAD 277.4K
$21.8K฿730.0K
35.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.15MAD 339
$71.3฿2,386
-49.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.10MAD 104
$14.01฿469
-20.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.77MAD 373
$17.93฿600
121.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.86MAD 233
$40.82฿1,365
-39.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.16MAD 217
$6.88฿230
236.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70MAD 62.9
$5.72฿191
17.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107MAD 1,005
$308฿10.3K
-65.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,514MAD 33.0K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-76.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.25MAD 368
$55.8฿1,865
-29.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.38MAD 379
$26.04฿871
55.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1MAD 808
$84.8฿2,837
1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2MAD 659
$71.0฿2,375
-1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281MAD 2,636
$423฿14.2K
-33.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MAD 1,629
$242฿8,110
-28.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505MAD 4,743
$797฿26.7K
-36.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304MAD 2,856
$507฿17.0K
-39.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,272MAD 11.9K
$1,918฿64.2K
-33.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$986MAD 9,252
$1,464฿49.0K
-32.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$281MAD 2,637
$595฿19.9K
-52.76%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Berkane versus $423 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 112% 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 $244 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 18%, 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 $1,086 per month in Berkane and $1,279 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 $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 and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $724 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 $724 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.