😐A single person spends $1,047 per month in Bugojno vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Bugojno vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Bugojno vs $1,838 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 – Bugojno22% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.27BAM 12.43
$1.96฿65.9
270.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.14BAM 60.1
$18.35฿617
91.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.95BAM 15.31
$7.48฿252
19.65%
Cappuccino
$2.06BAM 3.52
$2.02฿67.8
1.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07BAM 3.54
$0.85฿28.52
143.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34BAM 2.29
$0.36฿11.97
272.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63BAM 4.50
$2.14฿71.9
22.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35BAM 4.02
$3.59฿121
-34.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42BAM 2.43
$1.65฿55.5
-13.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27BAM 2.17
$1.57฿52.7
-19.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15BAM 3.68
$1.19฿40.05
80.67%
Eggs
$3.20BAM 5.48
$1.94฿65.1
64.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.37BAM 17.74
$16.19฿545
-35.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58BAM 14.67
$2.99฿101
186.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.20BAM 22.57
$10.94฿368
20.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49BAM 2.56
$2.71฿91.2
-45.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78BAM 3.05
$1.17฿39.27
52.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98BAM 3.39
$1.69฿56.8
17.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32BAM 3.97
$1.60฿54.0
45.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13BAM 1.93
$1.38฿46.56
-18.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20BAM 2.06
$1.20฿40.47
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23BAM 2.10
$0.67฿22.51
83.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80BAM 1.37
$0.56฿18.74
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76BAM 6.42
$4.64฿156
-18.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.16BAM 7.12
$17.62฿593
-76.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09BAM 1.87
$1.86฿62.6
-41.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27BAM 2.17
$3.30฿111
-61.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77BAM 3.02
$0.88฿29.70
101.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.06BAM 60.0
$19.34฿651
81.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92BAM 1.58
$1.36฿45.92
-32.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67BAM 1.14
$1.34฿45.00
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.99BAM 15.37
$8.21฿276
9.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51BAM 2.59
$1.22฿41.20
23.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KBAM 44.5K
$21.4K฿718.5K
21.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KBAM 44.8K
$22.5K฿758.1K
16.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195BAM 334
$70.7฿2,378
176.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.86BAM 32.26
$14.04฿472
34.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.25BAM 56.9
$17.49฿589
90.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.34BAM 50.2
$42.15฿1,418
-30.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.01BAM 18.83
$6.88฿231
60.03%
Cinema Ticket
$7.06BAM 12.07
$5.92฿199
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255BAM 437
$309฿10.4K
-17.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,429BAM 5,865
$14.9K฿500.7K
-76.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3BAM 154
$55.8฿1,876
61.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.65BAM 62.7
$26.11฿879
40.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111BAM 190
$83.0฿2,793
33.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103BAM 176
$70.5฿2,371
46.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260BAM 445
$432฿14.5K
-39.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168BAM 287
$239฿8,040
-29.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$362BAM 619
$822฿27.7K
-55.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313BAM 535
$512฿17.2K
-38.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,502BAM 4,279
$1,915฿64.4K
30.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,796BAM 3,072
$1,467฿49.4K
22.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bugojno
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606BAM 1,036
$579฿19.5K
4.57%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Bugojno versus $432 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 $35.00 in Bugojno versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Bugojno vs $243 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,571 per month in Bugojno and $1,292 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 $1,047 in Bugojno and $861 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 compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 81% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,047 in Bugojno and $861 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 $861 versus $1,047 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.