🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $760 in Bogo City versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Bogo City versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Bogo City versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Bogo City costs roughly 12% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bogo City43% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52₱279
$1.94฿63.5
132.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.30₱944
$18.64฿609
-17.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.61₱161
$7.82฿255
-66.62%
Cappuccino
$1.75₱108
$1.95฿63.8
-10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₱28.49
$0.85฿27.77
-45.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₱20.74
$0.35฿11.58
-2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58₱97.2
$2.13฿69.6
-25.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38₱84.9
$3.73฿122
-63.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76₱109
$1.71฿56.0
2.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19₱73.3
$1.63฿53.2
-26.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91₱56.1
$1.14฿37.15
-20.18%
Eggs
$2.26₱140
$1.93฿63.1
17.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.78₱665
$16.21฿530
-33.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65₱225
$3.12฿102
16.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.79₱296
$10.90฿356
-56.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70₱166
$2.75฿90.0
-1.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱89.4
$1.21฿39.52
19.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41₱210
$1.62฿53.0
110.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29₱141
$1.59฿51.8
44.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55₱95.7
$1.40฿45.70
10.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72₱106
$1.17฿38.17
47.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97₱60.1
$0.66฿21.60
46.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.09
$0.53฿17.22
-5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17₱195
$4.69฿153
-32.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28₱387
$18.66฿609
-66.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₱74.8
$1.80฿58.8
-32.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81₱112
$3.23฿106
-43.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.94
$0.90฿29.26
-71.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83₱51.3
$1.41฿45.91
-41.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.16
$1.29฿42.12
-82.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73₱169
$7.84฿256
-65.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱68.4
$1.27฿41.58
-12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K₱1.8M
$21.3K฿694.9K
39.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K₱1.7M
$22.2K฿725.4K
22.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.5₱6,071
$69.1฿2,256
42.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.75₱2,143
$14.08฿460
146.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.71₱1,832
$18.00฿588
65.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.56₱2,131
$41.06฿1,341
-15.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.52₱278
$6.96฿227
-35.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45₱336
$5.92฿193
-7.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$232₱14.3K
$299฿9,766
-22.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,906₱240.8K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-73.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.15₱2,846
$54.7฿1,787
-15.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.71₱1,401
$26.77฿874
-15.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1₱4,633
$85.0฿2,776
-11.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4₱3,477
$70.6฿2,306
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$265₱16.3K
$428฿14.0K
-38.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176₱10.8K
$237฿7,752
-26.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592₱36.5K
$801฿26.2K
-26.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389₱24.0K
$515฿16.8K
-24.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,518₱155.2K
$1,975฿64.5K
27.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,104₱68.1K
$1,475฿48.2K
-25.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogo City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165₱10.1K
$617฿20.2K
-73.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
5
60.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bogo City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Bogo City and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 275% 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: $15.00 in Bogo City vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $246 per month, with Bogo City cheaper across the board.
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
Bogo City vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Bogo City?
Bogo City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bogo City or Chiang Mai?
On paper, Chiang Mai earns 275% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bogo City and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Bogo City versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Bogo City and Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Bogo City vs Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $760 per month in Bogo City versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Bogo City or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bogo City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Bogo City or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Bogo City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bogo City or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Bogo City 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.