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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,723 per month in Budva vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,769 per month in Budva vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,815 per month in Budva vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Budva costs about 99% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Budva sits 29% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 €14.21

$1.94 ฿63.5

751.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 €56.6

$18.64 ฿609

253.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.51 €9.90

$7.82 ฿255

47.19%

Cappuccino

$2.86 €2.46

$1.95 ฿63.8

46.67%

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

$2.20 €1.89

$0.85 ฿27.77

158.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 €1.23

$0.35 ฿11.58

308.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 €2.96

$2.13 ฿69.6

61.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 €3.27

$3.73 ฿122

1.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.71 ฿56.0

-19.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 €0.95

$1.63 ฿53.2

-31.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 €2.04

$1.14 ฿37.15

107.89%

Eggs

$3.26 €2.81

$1.93 ฿63.1

68.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 €7.77

$16.21 ฿530

-44.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 €6.90

$3.12 ฿102

157.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.86 €10.21

$10.90 ฿356

8.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 €1.12

$2.75 ฿90.0

-52.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 €1.54

$1.21 ฿39.52

47.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 €1.44

$1.62 ฿53.0

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.93 €2.52

$1.59 ฿51.8

84.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 €0.89

$1.40 ฿45.70

-25.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 €1.08

$1.17 ฿38.17

6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 €1.47

$0.66 ฿21.60

159.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 €1.01

$0.53 ฿17.22

122.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 €3.86

$4.69 ฿153

-4.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 €5.64

$18.66 ฿609

-64.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 €1.10

$1.80 ฿58.8

-28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 €1.48

$3.23 ฿106

-46.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 €1.97

$0.90 ฿29.26

154.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.39 €34.75

$19.21 ฿628

110.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 €1.01

$1.41 ฿45.91

-16.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 €0.88

$1.29 ฿42.12

-20.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.20 €14.80

$7.84 ฿256

119.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 €1.53

$1.27 ฿41.58

40.16%

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

$29.8K €25.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

40.28%

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

$26.2K €22.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

18.13%

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

$159 €137

$69.1 ฿2,256

130.61%

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

$18.52 €15.93

$14.08 ฿460

31.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.49 €28.81

$18.00 ฿588

86.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 €51.8

$41.06 ฿1,341

46.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.86 €20.52

$6.96 ฿227

242.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 €4.89

$5.92 ฿193

-4.05%

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

$419 €361

$299 ฿9,766

40.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K €8,803

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-31.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 €101

$54.7 ฿1,787

115.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.05 €42.19

$26.77 ฿874

83.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 €96.1

$85.0 ฿2,776

31.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$206 €177

$70.6 ฿2,306

191.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$938 €807

$428 ฿14.0K

119.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 €601

$237 ฿7,752

194.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,748 €1,503

$801 ฿26.2K

118.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 €1,217

$515 ฿16.8K

174.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,240 €3,648

$1,975 ฿64.5K

114.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,169 €2,726

$1,475 ฿48.2K

114.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 €900

$617 ฿20.2K

69.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.93

18.60%

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

Last update for Budva: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Budva versus $428 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 70% higher in Budva, 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 $66.0 in Budva versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Budva vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Budva 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,723 in Budva, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 99% apart. Budva costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,584 per month in Budva and $1,300 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,723 in Budva and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 110% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Budva at $1,723. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budva it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,723 in Budva. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Budva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.