Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berwick and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,554 in Berwick, rent and utilities included – about $19,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berwick, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Berwick
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,554
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berwick and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Berwick and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,554 in Berwick versus $936 in Chiang Mai.

  • Berwick $2,554
  • Chiang Mai $936

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,747 in Berwick versus $1,457 in Chiang Mai.

  • Berwick $3,747
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,941 in Berwick versus $1,979 in Chiang Mai.

  • Berwick $4,941
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Living in Berwick is roughly 173% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Berwick is 88% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18 A$24.42
$2.24 ฿75.7
666.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.2 A$121
$19.00 ฿642
348.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.46 A$14.86
$5.55 ฿188
88.47%
Cappuccino
$4.28 A$6.09
$1.67 ฿56.6
156.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 A$4.03
$0.64 ฿21.56
343.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 A$3.29
$0.31 ฿10.32
645.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 A$11.20
$2.36 ฿79.6
233.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 A$10.67
$3.66 ฿124
105.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 A$1.90
$1.95 ฿65.8
-31.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 A$3.88
$1.44 ฿48.51
89.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 A$3.20
$1.33 ฿45.07
69.17%
Eggs
$4.82 A$6.85
$2.28 ฿77.1
111.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.00 A$14.21
$16.45 ฿556
-39.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 A$13.41
$2.78 ฿94.0
239.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.09 A$18.61
$9.31 ฿314
40.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.80 A$5.40
$2.35 ฿79.5
61.70%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 A$4.80
$0.97 ฿32.82
248.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 A$3.97
$1.60 ฿53.9
74.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 A$5.72
$1.50 ฿50.7
168.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.92
$1.28 ฿43.15
115.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.48
$1.10 ฿37.22
122.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 A$3.27
$0.71 ฿23.84
223.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 A$2.25
$0.49 ฿16.38
222.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.06 A$54.1
$4.14 ฿140
819.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 A$20.20
$17.52 ฿592
-18.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.18 A$7.36
$1.61 ฿54.5
221.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 A$8.39
$2.78 ฿94.0
112.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.75 A$3.91
$0.87 ฿29.33
216.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.0 A$114
$54.1 ฿1,827
47.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 A$4.46
$1.16 ฿39.08
170.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 A$2.41
$0.53 ฿17.82
220.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.45 A$53.2
$2.42 ฿81.8
1447.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 A$1.97
$1.45 ฿48.93
-4.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K A$36.9K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
23.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K A$35.5K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-7.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 A$255
$62.2 ฿2,100
188.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.59 A$40.63
$12.17 ฿411
134.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.84 A$69.4
$20.12 ฿680
142.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 A$86.9
$37.31 ฿1,260
63.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74 A$28.05
$3.77 ฿127
423.61%
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 A$18.15
$6.49 ฿219
96.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,169 A$3,082
$736 ฿24.9K
194.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K A$27.7K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
32.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.7 A$115
$53.4 ฿1,802
51.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6 A$88.9
$24.64 ฿832
153.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 A$134
$91.5 ฿3,089
3.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 A$159
$71.9 ฿2,429
55.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,319 A$1,874
$482 ฿16.3K
173.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 A$1,835
$309 ฿10.4K
317.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,391 A$3,397
$1,006 ฿34.0K
137.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,067 A$2,937
$633 ฿21.4K
226.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,398 A$7,670
$2,363 ฿79.8K
128.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,260 A$7,474
$1,589 ฿53.7K
231.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berwick
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.57
5.92%

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

Last update for Berwick: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berwick
$1.3K
Chiang Mai
$309 76.1% $982
Groceries & Markets
Berwick
$363
Chiang Mai
$234 35.5% $129
Eating Out
Berwick
$295
Chiang Mai
$78 73.7% $218
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwick
$257
Chiang Mai
$94 63.2% $162
Clothing & Footwear
Berwick
$158
Chiang Mai
$109 31% $49
Getting Around
Berwick
$103
Chiang Mai
$61 40.2% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Berwick
$87
Chiang Mai
$50 42% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,319 in Berwick and $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85 in Berwick vs $19 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $234 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Berwick
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
11:13 11:13 AM
07:13 7:13 AM
4 h behind Berwick
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,674
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berwick Chiang Mai 7,960 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Berwick
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Berwick vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Berwick?
Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $3,830 in Berwick and $1,403 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Berwick and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,319 in Berwick versus $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Berwick or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19 versus $85 in Berwick. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Berwick and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you’ll spend $2,554 per month in Berwick versus $936 in Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Berwick or in Chiang Mai?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Chiang Mai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Berwick or in Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Berwick or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Berwick and Chiang Mai are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Berwick. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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