Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Borujerd and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Borujerd: $517 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Borujerd, Iran
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Borujerd
🇮🇷 Iran
$517
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Borujerd and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Borujerd and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Borujerd versus $936 in Chiang Mai.

  • Borujerd $517
  • Chiang Mai $936

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Borujerd versus $1,457 in Chiang Mai.

  • Borujerd $847
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,178 in Borujerd versus $1,979 in Chiang Mai.

  • Borujerd $1,178
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Living in Borujerd costs roughly 45% less than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Borujerd 62% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.62 $2.62
$2.24 ฿75.7
16.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.16 $18.16
$19.00 ฿642
-4.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.78 $3.78
$5.55 ฿188
-31.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.60 $0.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.18 $1.18
$1.67 ฿56.6
-29.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 $0.54
$0.64 ฿21.56
-15.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.31 ฿10.32
270.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.36 ฿79.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.95 ฿65.8
-60.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 $0.53
$1.44 ฿48.51
-63.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.33 ฿45.07
53.38%
Eggs
$1.11 $1.11
$2.28 ฿77.1
-51.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$16.45 ฿556
-70.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.78 ฿94.0
14.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$9.31 ฿314
25.56%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.35 ฿79.5
-60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$0.97 ฿32.82
43.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.60 ฿53.9
-41.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 $0.61
$1.50 ฿50.7
-59.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.28 ฿43.15
-60.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 $0.45
$1.10 ฿37.22
-59.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.71 ฿23.84
-14.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 $0.28
$0.49 ฿16.38
-42.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.82 $0.82
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 $0.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45 $2.45
$4.14 ฿140
-40.82%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.52 ฿592
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.61 ฿54.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 ฿94.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 $0.15
$0.87 ฿29.33
-82.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.03 $9.03
$54.1 ฿1,827
-83.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 $0.39
$1.16 ฿39.08
-66.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 $0.33
$0.53 ฿17.82
-37.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.42 ฿81.8
14.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.09 $0.09
$1.45 ฿48.93
-93.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8K $46.8K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
122.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K $44.8K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
66.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$11.11 $11.11
$62.2 ฿2,100
-82.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.36 $1.36
$12.17 ฿411
-88.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.69 $3.69
$20.12 ฿680
-81.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.35 $17.35
$37.31 ฿1,260
-53.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.18 $12.18
$3.77 ฿127
223.08%
Cinema Ticket
$2.11 $2.11
$6.49 ฿219
-67.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 $123
$736 ฿24.9K
-83.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,734 $2,734
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-81.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.22 $24.22
$53.4 ฿1,802
-54.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.15 $26.15
$24.64 ฿832
6.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$91.5 ฿3,089
-3.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 $82.0
$71.9 ฿2,429
13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 $249
$482 ฿16.3K
-48.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 $195
$309 ฿10.4K
-36.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 $786
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-21.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 $372
$633 ฿21.4K
-41.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,137 $1,137
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-51.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$535 $535
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Borujerd
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
5.57
336.27%

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

Last update for Borujerd: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Borujerd
$195
Chiang Mai
$309 58.1% $114
Groceries & Markets
Borujerd
$119
Chiang Mai
$234 96.4% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Borujerd
$99
Chiang Mai
$109 9.4% $9.3
Eating Out
Borujerd
$53
Chiang Mai
$78 45.9% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Borujerd
$22
Chiang Mai
$50 133% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Borujerd
$16
Chiang Mai
$94 484% $78
Getting Around
Borujerd
$12
Chiang Mai
$61 426% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Borujerd and $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18 in Borujerd vs $19 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $234 per month, with Borujerd cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Borujerd
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:19 3:19 PM
18:49 6:49 PM
3 h 30 min ahead of Borujerd
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
234,997
127,240
💱 Currency
USD USD
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Borujerd Chiang Mai 5,220 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Borujerd
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Borujerd vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Borujerd or Chiang Mai?
Borujerd wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Borujerd the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Borujerd and in Chiang Mai?
You’d need roughly $775 in Borujerd and $1,403 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Borujerd compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $249 in Borujerd versus $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Borujerd compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you’ll spend $517 per month in Borujerd versus $936 in Chiang Mai – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Borujerd compared to Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Borujerd runs roughly 83% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Borujerd or in Chiang Mai?
At $517 in Borujerd versus $936 in Chiang Mai, a $800 budget is realistic in Borujerd but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Borujerd the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Borujerd or Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Borujerd compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Borujerd 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Borujerd gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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