🙂A single person spends $347 per month in Birtamod vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $549 per month in Birtamod vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $751 per month in Birtamod vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Birtamod is about 64% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Birtamod and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Birtamod75% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.43NPR 372
$2.10฿69.3
15.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.50NPR 3,287
$19.84฿656
8.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.45NPR 1,139
$5.79฿191
28.67%
Cappuccino
$1.41NPR 215
$1.83฿60.4
-22.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43NPR 66.0
$0.78฿25.61
-44.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14NPR 21.03
$0.31฿10.37
-54.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65NPR 253
$2.34฿77.2
-29.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92NPR 446
$3.70฿122
-21.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62NPR 94.8
$2.03฿67.1
-69.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40NPR 60.6
$1.60฿52.7
-75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18NPR 180
$1.42฿46.75
-16.90%
Eggs
$1.62NPR 248
$2.18฿71.9
-25.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.05NPR 926
$15.91฿526
-61.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83NPR 433
$3.07฿102
-7.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.69NPR 412
$9.87฿326
-72.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05NPR 313
$2.63฿86.8
-22.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37NPR 209
$1.10฿36.19
24.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91NPR 139
$1.63฿53.8
-44.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41NPR 62.9
$1.53฿50.6
-73.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40NPR 60.9
$1.24฿41.13
-67.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62NPR 94.1
$1.13฿37.37
-45.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.74฿24.38
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24NPR 36.46
$0.50฿16.48
-52.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90NPR 444
$4.28฿141
-32.24%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿594
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61NPR 246
$1.70฿56.1
-5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89NPR 441
$2.90฿95.7
-0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11NPR 17.25
$0.94฿31.13
-88.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92NPR 293
$1.23฿40.76
56.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34NPR 205
$0.53฿17.66
152.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.28NPR 501
$2.40฿79.3
36.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12NPR 172
$1.44฿47.55
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KNPR 4.4M
$21.2K฿700.2K
37.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.9KNPR 6.7M
$27.3K฿902.1K
60.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.5NPR 10.2K
$64.9฿2,145
2.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81NPR 736
$13.35฿441
-63.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.37NPR 820
$20.83฿688
-74.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.26NPR 1,263
$40.42฿1,336
-79.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.30NPR 1,422
$3.95฿131
135.44%
Cinema Ticket
$2.00NPR 306
$6.71฿222
-70.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.8NPR 12.5K
$787฿26.0K
-89.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,871NPR 438.9K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-81.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.92NPR 2,434
$56.2฿1,858
-71.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.61NPR 1,776
$24.95฿824
-53.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$92.7฿3,063
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.69NPR 4,081
$75.1฿2,482
-64.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$52.6NPR 8,045
$484฿16.0K
-89.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$36.80NPR 5,626
$287฿9,491
-87.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$107NPR 16.3K
$910฿30.1K
-88.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$53.0NPR 8,107
$531฿17.5K
-90.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birtamod
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$126NPR 19.2K
$605฿20.0K
-79.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Birtamod: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $52.6 in Birtamod versus $484 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 381% 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 $22.00 in Birtamod versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $105 in Birtamod vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Birtamod 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
Birtamod vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Birtamod and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $347 in Birtamod, $950 in Chiang Mai – roughly 174% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Birtamod compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $520 per month in Birtamod and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Birtamod and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Birtamod, 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 $22.00 in Birtamod and $20.00 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 131% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Birtamod, where all-in costs run around $347, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Birtamod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Birtamod and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $347 in Birtamod to $950 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Birtamod 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 Birtamod and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Birtamod. 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.