😐A single person spends $940 per month in Bugojno vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,346 per month in Bugojno vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,751 per month in Bugojno vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Bugojno costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Bugojno and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bugojno31% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.22BAM 8.89
$2.08฿69.3
150.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.13BAM 49.58
$19.61฿653
48.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.83BAM 9.92
$5.67฿189
2.82%
Cappuccino
$1.97BAM 3.36
$1.81฿60.1
8.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80BAM 3.07
$0.77฿25.58
133.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27BAM 2.16
$0.35฿11.49
262.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71BAM 4.62
$2.21฿73.7
22.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15BAM 3.65
$3.79฿126
-43.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19BAM 2.02
$2.05฿68.2
-41.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99BAM 1.69
$1.51฿50.4
-34.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07BAM 3.53
$1.40฿46.57
47.86%
Eggs
$2.62BAM 4.47
$2.26฿75.2
15.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.15BAM 13.87
$16.19฿539
-49.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32BAM 12.46
$2.90฿96.4
152.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.93BAM 18.60
$9.42฿314
16.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18BAM 2.01
$2.68฿89.2
-55.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72BAM 2.93
$1.09฿36.28
57.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47BAM 2.50
$1.62฿53.8
-9.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21BAM 2.07
$1.46฿48.61
-17.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02BAM 1.74
$1.28฿42.54
-20.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06BAM 1.80
$1.06฿35.21
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75BAM 1.28
$0.72฿23.88
4.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74BAM 1.26
$0.53฿17.51
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98BAM 6.77
$4.23฿141
-5.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.09BAM 6.96
$18.29฿609
-77.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78BAM 1.32
$1.63฿54.3
-52.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98BAM 1.67
$2.90฿96.6
-66.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23BAM 2.10
$0.88฿29.24
39.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93BAM 1.59
$1.17฿39.04
-20.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58BAM 0.98
$0.58฿19.25
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.80BAM 9.86
$2.39฿79.4
142.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64BAM 2.79
$1.45฿48.28
13.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KBAM 54.0K
$21.0K฿699.5K
51.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KBAM 37.4K
$26.4K฿879.7K
-16.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136BAM 231
$63.7฿2,119
113.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06BAM 30.74
$12.89฿429
40.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.35BAM 46.54
$20.52฿683
33.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.23BAM 58.2
$39.02฿1,299
-12.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96BAM 10.15
$6.58฿219
-9.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204BAM 348
$784฿26.1K
-73.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,345BAM 3,991
$14.7K฿488.4K
-84.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3BAM 101
$55.1฿1,835
7.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.62BAM 58.9
$24.74฿824
39.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7BAM 153
$94.1฿3,133
-4.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3BAM 144
$74.0฿2,462
14.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385BAM 655
$490฿16.3K
-21.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 445
$288฿9,594
-9.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483BAM 821
$891฿29.7K
-45.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397BAM 675
$521฿17.3K
-23.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,488BAM 4,234
$1,974฿65.7K
26.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,810BAM 3,081
$1,444฿48.1K
25.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$631BAM 1,074
$602฿20.0K
4.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
5.57
-22.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bugojno: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Bugojno versus $490 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 5% 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 $29.00 in Bugojno versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Bugojno vs $241 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 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,411 per month in Bugojno and $1,398 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 $940 in Bugojno and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Bugojno and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $204 per month in Bugojno and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bugojno or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Bugojno at $940. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bugojno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bugojno or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $940 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 to 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.