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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Boroko vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,551 per month in Boroko vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,990 per month in Boroko vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Boroko costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 17% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 PGK 34.16

$1.96 ฿64.0

301.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.12 PGK 165

$18.81 ฿615

102.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 PGK 25.54

$7.92 ฿259

-25.76%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PGK 9.67

$1.91 ฿62.6

16.75%

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

$0.76 PGK 3.28

$0.84 ฿27.41

-9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PGK 3.71

$0.35 ฿11.51

142.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PGK 10.21

$2.21 ฿72.1

6.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PGK 17.31

$3.80 ฿124

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 PGK 7.25

$1.64 ฿53.5

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 PGK 5.60

$1.62 ฿53.1

-20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.54

$1.18 ฿38.62

8.47%

Eggs

$3.78 PGK 16.42

$2.01 ฿65.8

88.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.44

$15.89 ฿520

-71.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 PGK 27.19

$3.01 ฿98.5

107.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 PGK 30.12

$10.77 ฿352

-35.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.50

$2.61 ฿85.5

54.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.87

$1.22 ฿39.88

142.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 PGK 13.06

$1.70 ฿55.7

77.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.80

$1.58 ฿51.5

86.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 PGK 13.40

$1.32 ฿43.14

134.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.98

$1.17 ฿38.23

-21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 PGK 5.10

$0.67 ฿21.98

76.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 PGK 2.13

$0.56 ฿18.32

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.34

$4.53 ฿148

34.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 PGK 22.28

$18.20 ฿595

-71.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PGK 5.28

$1.83 ฿60.0

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PGK 7.18

$3.23 ฿106

-48.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

$0.89 ฿29.00

-47.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.71 PGK 138

$19.38 ฿634

63.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 PGK 20.49

$1.35 ฿44.20

249.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 PGK 6.32

$1.35 ฿44.05

8.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.11 PGK 52.6

$8.25 ฿270

46.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 PGK 3.50

$1.27 ฿41.64

-36.22%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.6K

$21.2K ฿691.8K

8.48%

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

$25.1K PGK 109.0K

$22.5K ฿735.3K

11.66%

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

$66.9 PGK 290

$70.2 ฿2,294

-4.69%

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

$48.14 PGK 209

$13.77 ฿450

249.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$244 PGK 1,061

$17.60 ฿575

1288.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.12 PGK 200

$41.57 ฿1,360

10.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.32 PGK 66.5

$6.60 ฿216

132.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 PGK 32.15

$5.78 ฿189

28.20%

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

$356 PGK 1,543

$306 ฿10.0K

16.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,352 PGK 10.2K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-84.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.23 PGK 136

$54.4 ฿1,778

-42.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.33 PGK 62.2

$26.14 ฿855

-45.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.29 PGK 210

$84.5 ฿2,764

-42.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.30 PGK 123

$69.4 ฿2,270

-59.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,535 PGK 15.3K

$424 ฿13.9K

734.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 PGK 1,054

$238 ฿7,788

1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,574 PGK 15.5K

$825 ฿27.0K

333.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,045

$515 ฿16.8K

-53.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,575

$635 ฿20.8K

-42.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

120.00%

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

Last update for Boroko: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,535 in Boroko versus $424 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 75% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Boroko versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Boroko vs $243 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

Boroko costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,669 per month in Boroko and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $356 per month in Boroko and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Boroko at $1,113. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,113 in Boroko. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boroko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.