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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Bihac versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Bihac versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,880 in Bihac versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bihac is roughly 15% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bihac 25% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 BAM 11.57

$1.94 ฿63.5

254.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 BAM 50.3

$18.64 ฿609

60.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 BAM 9.68

$7.82 ฿255

-26.34%

Cappuccino

$1.16 BAM 1.94

$1.95 ฿63.8

-40.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.94

$0.85 ฿27.77

36.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.44

$0.35 ฿11.58

145.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$2.13 ฿69.6

-29.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$3.73 ฿122

-53.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BAM 2.24

$1.71 ฿56.0

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 BAM 1.87

$1.63 ฿53.2

-31.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BAM 4.01

$1.14 ฿37.15

108.77%

Eggs

$2.87 BAM 4.83

$1.93 ฿63.1

48.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 BAM 17.06

$16.21 ฿530

-37.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 BAM 12.30

$3.12 ฿102

134.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 BAM 19.44

$10.90 ฿356

6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$2.75 ฿90.0

-36.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.21 ฿39.52

33.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 BAM 3.20

$1.62 ฿53.0

17.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.48

$1.59 ฿51.8

30.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$1.40 ฿45.70

-17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.17 ฿38.17

23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BAM 1.54

$0.66 ฿21.60

39.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.45

$0.53 ฿17.22

62.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 BAM 5.88

$4.69 ฿153

-25.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.36 BAM 14.04

$18.66 ฿609

-55.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.10

$1.80 ฿58.8

-30.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$3.23 ฿106

-37.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 BAM 3.05

$0.90 ฿29.26

101.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.05 BAM 58.9

$19.21 ฿628

82.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.41 ฿45.91

-14.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.30

$1.29 ฿42.12

-40.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.75 BAM 18.06

$7.84 ฿256

37.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.27 ฿41.58

17.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K BAM 39.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

11.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

17.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$210 BAM 352

$69.1 ฿2,256

203.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.23 BAM 32.30

$14.08 ฿460

36.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.97 BAM 36.92

$18.00 ฿588

22.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.75 BAM 49.97

$41.06 ฿1,341

-27.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.88 BAM 18.28

$6.96 ฿227

56.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 BAM 9.32

$5.92 ฿193

-6.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$150 BAM 251

$299 ฿9,766

-50.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,937 BAM 4,935

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-80.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.33 BAM 49.28

$54.7 ฿1,787

-46.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.54 BAM 29.46

$26.77 ฿874

-34.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 BAM 166

$85.0 ฿2,776

15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 BAM 198

$70.6 ฿2,306

66.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 BAM 372

$428 ฿14.0K

-48.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 BAM 347

$237 ฿7,752

-13.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 BAM 518

$801 ฿26.2K

-61.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 BAM 471

$515 ฿16.8K

-45.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,492 BAM 2,507

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-24.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,326 BAM 2,228

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-10.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$806 BAM 1,354

$617 ฿20.2K

30.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

-17.20%

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

Last update for Bihac: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Bihac and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bihac pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Bihac vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $246, with Bihac 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

Bihac vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bihac and Chiang Mai differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($999 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bihac pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Bihac versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $30.00 in Bihac. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Bihac versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Bihac 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bihac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.