😐A single person spends $1,056 per month in Bugojno vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,607 per month in Bugojno vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,159 per month in Bugojno vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Bugojno costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bugojno and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bugojno21% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.05BAM 11.85
$1.94฿63.5
263.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26BAM 59.2
$18.64฿609
89.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.63BAM 14.51
$7.82฿255
10.36%
Cappuccino
$2.15BAM 3.62
$1.95฿63.8
10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09BAM 3.52
$0.85฿27.77
145.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37BAM 2.30
$0.35฿11.58
291.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59BAM 4.35
$2.13฿69.6
21.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33BAM 3.92
$3.73฿122
-37.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38BAM 2.32
$1.71฿56.0
-19.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22BAM 2.05
$1.63฿53.2
-25.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12BAM 3.57
$1.14฿37.15
85.96%
Eggs
$3.17BAM 5.32
$1.93฿63.1
64.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.45BAM 17.55
$16.21฿530
-35.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52BAM 14.32
$3.12฿102
173.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.26BAM 22.28
$10.90฿356
21.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49BAM 2.50
$2.75฿90.0
-45.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79BAM 3.01
$1.21฿39.52
47.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01BAM 3.38
$1.62฿53.0
24.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40BAM 4.03
$1.59฿51.8
50.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13BAM 1.90
$1.40฿45.70
-19.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21BAM 2.02
$1.17฿38.17
3.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22BAM 2.05
$0.66฿21.60
84.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78BAM 1.31
$0.53฿17.22
47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.69BAM 6.19
$4.69฿153
-21.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.22BAM 7.09
$18.66฿609
-77.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04BAM 1.75
$1.80฿58.8
-42.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26BAM 2.12
$3.23฿106
-60.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.85BAM 3.11
$0.90฿29.26
105.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.01BAM 58.8
$19.21฿628
82.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85BAM 1.43
$1.41฿45.91
-39.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73BAM 1.23
$1.29฿42.12
-43.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.05BAM 15.21
$7.84฿256
15.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52BAM 2.55
$1.27฿41.58
19.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KBAM 44.5K
$21.3K฿694.9K
24.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KBAM 44.3K
$22.2K฿725.4K
18.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199BAM 334
$69.1฿2,256
187.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.58BAM 31.21
$14.08฿460
31.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.62BAM 56.5
$18.00฿588
86.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.54BAM 49.62
$41.06฿1,341
-28.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.13BAM 18.70
$6.96฿227
59.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.28BAM 12.23
$5.92฿193
22.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$258BAM 433
$299฿9,766
-13.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,398BAM 5,710
$15.0K฿488.3K
-77.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2BAM 155
$54.7฿1,787
68.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.64BAM 61.6
$26.77฿874
36.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108BAM 181
$85.0฿2,776
26.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103BAM 172
$70.6฿2,306
45.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259BAM 435
$428฿14.0K
-39.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168BAM 282
$237฿7,752
-29.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$362BAM 609
$801฿26.2K
-54.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312BAM 525
$515฿16.8K
-39.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,595BAM 4,359
$1,975฿64.5K
31.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,811BAM 3,043
$1,475฿48.2K
22.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624BAM 1,049
$617฿20.2K
1.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
5
-24.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bugojno: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bugojno 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 1% higher in Bugojno, 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 $35.00 in Bugojno versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Bugojno vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Bugojno 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
Bugojno vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
Bugojno costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Bugojno vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,585 per month in Bugojno and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Bugojno compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,056 in Bugojno and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Bugojno vs Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,056 in Bugojno and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,056 in Bugojno. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bugojno 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 Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bugojno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.