😐A single person spends $1,525 per month in Buzet vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Buzet vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,300 per month in Buzet vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Buzet costs about 77% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Buzet sits 14% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44€14.38
$1.96฿65.9
738.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1€71.0
$18.35฿617
342.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31€7.27
$7.48฿252
11.10%
Cappuccino
$3.44€3.01
$2.02฿67.8
70.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56€3.12
$0.85฿28.52
318.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.23
$0.36฿11.97
608.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€4.03
$2.14฿71.9
115.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80€3.33
$3.59฿121
5.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€1.00
$1.65฿55.5
-30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41€1.24
$1.57฿52.7
-10.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.12€2.73
$1.19฿40.05
162.18%
Eggs
$5.07€4.43
$1.94฿65.1
161.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.58€15.38
$16.19฿545
8.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.70€10.24
$2.99฿101
291.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47€10.03
$10.94฿368
4.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65€1.44
$2.71฿91.2
-39.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56€1.37
$1.17฿39.27
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.90
$1.69฿56.8
28.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.21
$1.60฿54.0
58.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44€1.26
$1.38฿46.56
4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42€1.24
$1.20฿40.47
18.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89€0.78
$0.67฿22.51
32.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.99
$0.56฿18.74
101.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12€4.48
$4.64฿156
10.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.38€6.45
$17.62฿593
-58.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$1.86฿62.6
-25.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.19
$3.30฿111
-58.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.50
$0.88฿29.70
95.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.88€37.51
$19.34฿651
121.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14€2.74
$1.36฿45.92
130.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03€0.90
$1.34฿45.00
-23.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.22€8.07
$8.21฿276
12.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.54
$1.22฿41.20
44.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$21.4K฿718.5K
80.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€23.2K
$22.5K฿758.1K
17.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€165
$70.7฿2,378
166.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.24€20.34
$14.04฿472
65.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.02€26.26
$17.49฿589
71.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7€45.24
$42.15฿1,418
22.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53€12.72
$6.88฿231
111.19%
Cinema Ticket
$8.36€7.31
$5.92฿199
41.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$243€213
$309฿10.4K
-21.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,367€1,196
$14.9K฿500.7K
-90.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.9
$55.8฿1,876
86.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.11€41.22
$26.11฿879
80.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141€123
$83.0฿2,793
69.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€91.5
$70.5฿2,371
48.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$666€583
$432฿14.5K
54.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468€410
$239฿8,040
96.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045€914
$822฿27.7K
27.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$759€664
$512฿17.2K
48.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,205€3,679
$1,915฿64.4K
119.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,353€2,933
$1,467฿49.4K
128.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buzet
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
5
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Buzet: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Buzet 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Buzet versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $243 – 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
Buzet vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Buzet and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,525 in Buzet, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 77% apart. Buzet costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Buzet compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,287 per month in Buzet and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Buzet and 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buzet and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $243 per month in Buzet and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Buzet, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Buzet at $1,525. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buzet it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Buzet and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $1,525 in Buzet. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Buzet or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Buzet and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buzet makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.