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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $895 per month in Boroko vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Boroko vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,703 per month in Boroko vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Boroko is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 35% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 PGK 31.39

$2.08 ฿69.2

247.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.76 PGK 155

$19.61 ฿652

82.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PGK 23.93

$5.67 ฿189

-2.82%

Cappuccino

$2.55 PGK 11.07

$1.81 ฿60.0

40.88%

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

$0.73 PGK 3.16

$0.77 ฿25.55

-5.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PGK 2.82

$0.35 ฿11.48

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 PGK 11.94

$2.21 ฿73.6

24.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 PGK 15.41

$3.79 ฿126

-6.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PGK 7.02

$2.05 ฿68.1

-20.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 PGK 5.06

$1.51 ฿50.4

-23.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PGK 5.42

$1.40 ฿46.51

-10.71%

Eggs

$3.61 PGK 15.68

$2.26 ฿75.1

59.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 PGK 21.67

$16.19 ฿538

-69.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 PGK 22.07

$2.90 ฿96.3

75.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 PGK 28.95

$9.42 ฿313

-29.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 PGK 18.03

$2.68 ฿89.1

54.85%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 PGK 13.13

$1.09 ฿36.23

177.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 PGK 12.33

$1.62 ฿53.8

75.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 PGK 11.46

$1.46 ฿48.55

80.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 PGK 12.47

$1.28 ฿42.48

124.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PGK 4.04

$1.06 ฿35.17

-12.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 PGK 4.82

$0.72 ฿23.85

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PGK 1.89

$0.53 ฿17.49

-18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 PGK 23.98

$4.23 ฿141

30.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.02 PGK 21.80

$18.29 ฿608

-72.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 PGK 4.99

$1.63 ฿54.2

-29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 PGK 6.94

$2.90 ฿96.5

-44.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

$0.88 ฿29.20

-46.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.66 PGK 133

$53.8 ฿1,788

-42.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 PGK 19.21

$1.17 ฿38.99

277.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 PGK 5.94

$0.58 ฿19.22

136.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.14 PGK 48.39

$2.39 ฿79.3

366.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 PGK 3.29

$1.45 ฿48.22

-47.59%

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

$21.2K PGK 91.9K

$21.0K ฿698.6K

0.68%

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

$17.5K PGK 76.0K

$26.4K ฿878.6K

-33.80%

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

$63.1 PGK 274

$63.7 ฿2,116

-0.86%

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

$23.42 PGK 102

$12.89 ฿429

81.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$92.3 PGK 401

$20.52 ฿682

349.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.37 PGK 184

$39.02 ฿1,297

8.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.39 PGK 62.5

$3.92 ฿130

267.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 PGK 29.58

$6.58 ฿219

3.50%

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

$341 PGK 1,483

$784 ฿26.1K

-56.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,221 PGK 9,650

$14.7K ฿487.9K

-84.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.27 PGK 145

$55.1 ฿1,833

-39.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.67 PGK 59.4

$24.74 ฿823

-44.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.18 PGK 196

$94.1 ฿3,130

-52.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.12 PGK 118

$74.0 ฿2,459

-63.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,340 PGK 14.5K

$490 ฿16.3K

581.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 PGK 971

$288 ฿9,582

-22.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,407 PGK 14.8K

$891 ฿29.6K

282.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PGK 977

$521 ฿17.3K

-56.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$355 PGK 1,544

$602 ฿20.0K

-40.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

97.49%

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

Last update for Boroko: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,340 in Boroko versus $490 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 69% 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 $36.00 in Boroko versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Boroko vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Boroko 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,343 per month in Boroko and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $341 per month in Boroko and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boroko, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Boroko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boroko costs $895 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. 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.