🙂A single person spends $573 per month in Bonwapitse vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $933 per month in Bonwapitse vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,293 per month in Bonwapitse vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Bonwapitse is about 40% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bonwapitse and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bonwapitse58% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.99P 144
$2.10฿69.3
423.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.25P 384
$19.84฿656
47.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.83P 76.6
$5.79฿191
0.69%
Cappuccino
$2.33P 30.61
$1.83฿60.4
27.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76P 9.96
$0.78฿25.61
-2.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45P 5.87
$0.31฿10.37
45.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08P 27.37
$2.34฿77.2
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65P 34.77
$3.70฿122
-28.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48P 19.47
$2.03฿67.1
-27.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88P 11.60
$1.60฿52.7
-45.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90P 24.93
$1.42฿46.75
33.80%
Eggs
$2.54P 33.37
$2.18฿71.9
16.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07P 79.8
$15.91฿526
-61.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57P 60.1
$3.07฿102
48.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.99P 65.6
$9.87฿326
-49.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65P 21.71
$2.63฿86.8
-37.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41P 18.52
$1.10฿36.19
28.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98P 26.02
$1.63฿53.8
21.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68P 22.12
$1.53฿50.6
9.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41P 18.58
$1.24฿41.13
13.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18P 15.48
$1.13฿37.37
4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47P 19.35
$0.74฿24.38
98.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92P 12.04
$0.50฿16.48
84.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81P 50.1
$4.28฿141
-10.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.49P 59.0
$17.97฿594
-75.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47P 19.37
$1.70฿56.1
-13.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78P 23.38
$2.90฿95.7
-38.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60P 7.94
$1.23฿40.76
-51.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.59P 33.98
$0.53฿17.66
388.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.06P 40.14
$2.40฿79.3
27.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37P 18.04
$1.44฿47.55
-4.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KP 264.8K
$21.2K฿700.2K
-4.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KP 277.4K
$27.3K฿902.1K
-22.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.8P 812
$64.9฿2,145
-4.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.56P 257
$13.35฿441
46.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.92P 551
$20.83฿688
101.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.24P 81.9
$6.71฿222
-7.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129P 1,693
$787฿26.0K
-83.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,613P 34.3K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-82.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.69P 626
$56.2฿1,858
-15.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.08P 224
$24.95฿824
-31.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0P 893
$92.7฿3,063
-26.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0P 959
$75.1฿2,482
-2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bonwapitse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.67
5.57
109.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bonwapitse: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Bonwapitse versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $174 in Bonwapitse vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Bonwapitse 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
Bonwapitse vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bonwapitse or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Bonwapitse, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bonwapitse and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $860 per month in Bonwapitse and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Bonwapitse and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Bonwapitse and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bonwapitse or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 39% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bonwapitse or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bonwapitse, where all-in costs run around $573, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Bonwapitse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bonwapitse or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bonwapitse costs $573 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bonwapitse compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Bonwapitse or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Bonwapitse. 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.
Bonwapitse vs other spots: cost of living compared