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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 178

$1.27 ฿41.40

8.66%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Busia: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

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

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

For families, Busia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Busia and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Busia wins on affordability, Chiang Mai on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.