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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $199 in Brikama versus $926 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $174 in Brikama versus $1,381 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $150 in Brikama versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Brikama costs roughly 79% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brikama 85% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.25 GMD 461

$2.10 ฿70.6

197.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ฿645

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

Cappuccino

$1.69 ฿56.6

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

$0.70 GMD 51.8

$0.65 ฿21.71

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 ฿131

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ฿69.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ฿51.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ฿41.93

Eggs

$2.39 GMD 176

$2.19 ฿73.6

9.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ฿89.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ฿35.32

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ฿49.49

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.73

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.95

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 GMD 26.22

$0.76 ฿25.50

-52.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$17.50 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 GMD 24.20

$0.86 ฿28.88

-61.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.7 ฿1,803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.57

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

$21.1K ฿706.4K

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

$26.3K ฿882.3K

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

$63.6 ฿2,133

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

$12.56 ฿422

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.04 ฿672

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ฿217

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

$777 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿489.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 ฿1,853

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.77 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 ฿3,029

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,467

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ฿15.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GMD 10.1K

$286 ฿9,601

-52.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 GMD 20.2K

$866 ฿29.0K

-68.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ฿17.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Brikama: September 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

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

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

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 366% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $298 in Brikama and $1,388 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2068% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $199 per month in Brikama versus $926 in Chiang Mai – a 366% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $199 in Brikama versus $926 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama 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.

Safety-wise, Brikama 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.

Expats usually find Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 366% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.