🙂A single person spends $57.9 per month in Brufut vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $97.0 per month in Brufut vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $136 per month in Brufut vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Brufut is about 93% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Brufut and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Brufut96% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.42GMD 179
$1.96฿64.0
23.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.81฿615
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.92฿259
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.91฿62.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.84฿27.41
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35฿11.51
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿72.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.80฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74GMD 129
$1.64฿53.5
6.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68GMD 50.2
$1.62฿53.1
-58.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.69GMD 50.9
$1.18฿38.62
-41.53%
Eggs
-
$2.01฿65.8
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.89฿520
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.01฿98.5
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.77฿352
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.61฿85.5
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.22฿39.88
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.70฿55.7
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.58฿51.5
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.09GMD 80.5
$1.32฿43.14
-17.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03GMD 76.4
$1.17฿38.23
-11.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.67฿21.98
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32GMD 23.91
$0.56฿18.32
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.53฿148
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿595
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿60.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45GMD 107
$3.23฿106
-55.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿29.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.35฿44.20
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35฿44.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25฿270
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03GMD 76.6
$1.27฿41.64
-18.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿691.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿735.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.2฿2,294
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.77฿450
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.60฿575
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,360
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.78฿189
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306฿10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿484.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.4฿1,778
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.14฿855
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.5฿2,764
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$69.4฿2,270
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,788
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿27.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brufut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brufut: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 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
Brufut vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brufut or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1373% more than Brufut, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Brufut vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $86.8 per month in Brufut and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Brufut compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $57.9 in Brufut and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Brufut or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 524% 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 $800/month in Brufut or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $57.9 in Brufut and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brufut or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brufut costs $57.9 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brufut 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 Brufut or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Brufut. 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.