Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $395 per month in Bhimdatta vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $656 per month in Bhimdatta vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $918 per month in Bhimdatta vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bhimdatta is about 54% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bhimdatta 70% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.71 NPR 108
$1.96 ฿65.7
-63.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.98 NPR 2,916
$18.35 ฿616
3.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.70 NPR 1,028
$7.48 ฿251
-10.43%
Cappuccino
$1.56 NPR 240
$2.02 ฿67.7
-22.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 NPR 82.9
$0.85 ฿28.45
-36.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 NPR 28.76
$0.36 ฿11.94
-47.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.64 NPR 406
$2.14 ฿71.7
23.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 NPR 555
$3.59 ฿121
0.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.60 NPR 91.9
$1.65 ฿55.4
-63.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 NPR 85.9
$1.57 ฿52.6
-64.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 NPR 124
$1.19 ฿39.95
-32.77%
Eggs
$1.67 NPR 256
$1.94 ฿65.0
-13.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.27 NPR 1,116
$16.19 ฿544
-55.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 NPR 494
$2.99 ฿100
7.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.98 NPR 919
$10.94 ฿367
-45.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 NPR 345
$2.71 ฿91.0
-17.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 NPR 160
$1.17 ฿39.18
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 NPR 184
$1.69 ฿56.6
-28.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 NPR 107
$1.60 ฿53.9
-56.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 NPR 75.1
$1.38 ฿46.45
-64.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 NPR 96.6
$1.20 ฿40.38
-47.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 NPR 81.1
$0.67 ฿22.46
-20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 NPR 38.26
$0.56 ฿18.70
-55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 NPR 458
$4.64 ฿156
-35.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.33 NPR 511
$17.62 ฿591
-81.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 NPR 362
$1.86 ฿62.4
26.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 NPR 517
$3.30 ฿111
2.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 NPR 29.72
$0.88 ฿29.63
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿649
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 NPR 330
$1.36 ฿45.82
58.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 NPR 124
$1.34 ฿44.90
-39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.72 NPR 571
$8.21 ฿276
-54.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 NPR 188
$1.22 ฿41.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K NPR 4.9M
$21.4K ฿716.8K
48.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K NPR 6.3M
$22.5K ฿756.3K
81.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$26.30 NPR 4,039
$70.7 ฿2,372
-62.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93 NPR 758
$14.04 ฿471
-64.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.71 NPR 1,492
$17.49 ฿587
-44.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.36 NPR 2,820
$42.15 ฿1,415
-56.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.78 NPR 427
$5.92 ฿199
-53.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.5 NPR 11.3K
$309 ฿10.4K
-76.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,690 NPR 413.1K
$14.9K ฿499.5K
-81.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.34 NPR 3,892
$55.8 ฿1,872
-54.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.77 NPR 4,266
$26.11 ฿877
6.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.70 NPR 6,866
$83.0 ฿2,787
-46.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.44 NPR 4,368
$70.5 ฿2,365
-59.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$104 NPR 16.0K
$432 ฿14.5K
-75.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$62.9 NPR 9,658
$239 ฿8,020
-73.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$205 NPR 31.4K
$822 ฿27.6K
-75.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 NPR 22.0K
$512 ฿17.2K
-72.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,915 ฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhimdatta
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 NPR 49.5K
$579 ฿19.4K
-44.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.08
5
141.60%

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

Last update for Bhimdatta: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $104 in Bhimdatta versus $432 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 80% 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 $19.00 in Bhimdatta versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $136 in Bhimdatta vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Bhimdatta 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
Bhimdatta vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bhimdatta and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $395 in Bhimdatta, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 118% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bhimdatta compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $592 per month in Bhimdatta and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhimdatta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bhimdatta and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Bhimdatta compared to Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $395 in Bhimdatta and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $395 in Bhimdatta to $861 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bhimdatta or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bhimdatta and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Bhimdatta. 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.

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