🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $205 in Beyla versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $411 in Beyla versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $617 in Beyla versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Beyla costs roughly 78% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beyla85% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.92GNF 122.2K
$2.08฿69.2
569.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.42GNF 275.9K
$19.64฿651
59.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.65฿188
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.81฿59.9
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.71฿23.66
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.32฿10.48
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.24฿74.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.96฿65.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.08GNF 9,496
$1.50฿49.83
-28.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.34฿44.32
-
Eggs
$1.22GNF 10.7K
$2.26฿75.1
-46.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.26฿539
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.95฿98.0
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.94฿330
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.15GNF 18.9K
$2.57฿85.3
-16.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19GNF 19.2K
$1.06฿35.04
106.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17GNF 19.1K
$1.61฿53.5
34.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18GNF 19.2K
$1.52฿50.4
43.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24GNF 19.7K
$1.27฿42.14
76.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23GNF 19.6K
$1.07฿35.37
108.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99GNF 8,659
$0.72฿23.89
37.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02GNF 8,965
$0.51฿16.87
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.01GNF 8,885
$4.19฿139
-75.89%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.87฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44GNF 12.7K
$1.69฿56.2
-14.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84฿94.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.23฿40.95
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.58฿19.13
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42฿80.4
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.41฿46.84
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K฿711.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.3K฿906.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$63.7฿2,112
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$12.85฿426
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$20.22฿671
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.74฿1,285
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.74฿223
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$778฿25.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿484.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.3฿1,801
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$25.45฿844
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.3฿3,129
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$73.4฿2,436
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$289฿9,596
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$894฿29.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$517฿17.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beyla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,027GNF 17.8M
$602฿20.0K
236.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beyla: August 29, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Beyla pays 237% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Beyla vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $94.0 vs $240, with Beyla cheaper for home cooking.
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
Beyla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beyla or Chiang Mai?
Beyla wins on cost – living expenses run 362% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Beyla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Beyla or in Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 237% higher in Beyla, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does it cost to live in Beyla compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $205 per month in Beyla versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 362% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Beyla or in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 156% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Beyla or in Chiang Mai?
At $205 in Beyla versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Beyla but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Beyla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beyla or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Beyla delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $205 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Beyla hard to pass up.
How safe is Beyla compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Beyla and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Beyla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 362% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.