Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, NC and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Burlington, NC and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,568 per month in Burlington, NC vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,724 per month in Burlington, NC vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,881 per month in Burlington, NC vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Burlington, NC costs about 196% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Burlington, NC sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.28 $19.28

$1.94 ฿63.8

893.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$18.64 ฿611

309.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$7.82 ฿256

42.46%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$1.95 ฿64.1

161.54%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$0.85 ฿27.90

202.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.35 ฿11.64

488.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$2.13 ฿69.9

186.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$3.73 ฿122

83.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.71 ฿56.2

-41.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.63 ฿53.4

117.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.14 ฿37.32

285.96%

Eggs

$4.04 $4.04

$1.93 ฿63.4

109.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$16.21 ฿532

-24.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.28 $11.28

$3.12 ฿102

261.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 $15.26

$10.90 ฿357

40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.75 ฿90.4

74.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.21 ฿39.70

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.62 ฿53.2

169.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$1.59 ฿52.1

194.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.40 ฿45.91

105.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.17 ฿38.34

143.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.66 ฿21.70

203.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.53 ฿17.30

313.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.57 $9.57

$4.69 ฿154

104.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 $13.75

$18.66 ฿612

-26.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.80 ฿59.0

2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.23 ฿106

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.90 ฿29.39

126.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.41 ฿46.13

146.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.29 ฿42.31

27.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.36 $29.36

$7.84 ฿257

274.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 ฿41.77

-34.65%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

38.36%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

16.22%

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

$187 $187

$69.1 ฿2,266

170.67%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$14.08 ฿462

281.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$18.00 ฿591

275.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.34 $42.34

$41.06 ฿1,347

3.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$13.55 $13.55

$5.92 ฿194

128.89%

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

$1,280 $1,280

$299 ฿9,811

327.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

56.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 $51.2

$54.7 ฿1,795

-6.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.44 $40.44

$26.77 ฿878

51.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$85.0 ฿2,788

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$70.6 ฿2,316

60.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 $1,605

$428 ฿14.0K

274.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$237 ฿7,787

468.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$801 ฿26.3K

230.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 $2,264

$515 ฿16.9K

339.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,808 $2,808

$1,975 ฿64.8K

42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,487 $2,487

$1,475 ฿48.4K

68.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

30.20%

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

Last update for Burlington, NC: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Burlington, NC 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Burlington, NC versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Burlington, NC vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,568 in Burlington, NC, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 196% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,851 per month in Burlington, NC 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 $2,568 in Burlington, NC and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,280 per month in Burlington, NC and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Burlington, NC at $2,568. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington, NC 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 $2,568 in Burlington, NC. 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, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.