Cost of Living Comparison Between Byron Bay and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Byron Bay and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Byron Bay is 74.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 143.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Byron Bay is 56.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 116.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91 A$18.46
$2.03 ฿64.8
535.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 A$75.7
$18.59 ฿594
184.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.53 A$13.63
$7.48 ฿239
27.41%
Cappuccino
$3.24 A$4.63
$2.00 ฿63.8
62.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 A$1.80
$0.85 ฿27.08
48.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 A$3.22
$0.35 ฿11.24
542.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.28 A$7.55
$2.21 ฿70.7
138.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 A$10.96
$3.76 ฿120
103.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 A$2.30
$1.72 ฿54.9
-6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 A$3.30
$1.63 ฿52.2
41.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 A$2.69
$1.16 ฿37.04
62.07%
Eggs
$4.44 A$6.34
$1.98 ฿63.3
124.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.23 A$11.77
$15.93 ฿509
-48.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.28 A$11.85
$3.17 ฿101
161.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.61
$10.90 ฿349
25.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.74
$2.65 ฿84.6
25.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.91
$1.22 ฿39.09
123.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 A$3.74
$1.70 ฿54.3
53.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 A$6.17
$1.59 ฿50.8
171.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.50
$1.32 ฿42.33
84.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.28
$1.17 ฿37.36
96.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 A$3.04
$0.68 ฿21.67
213.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 A$1.85
$0.56 ฿17.81
130.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.25 A$44.68
$4.51 ฿144
592.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.59 A$18.00
$19.07 ฿610
-33.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 A$6.60
$1.77 ฿56.6
160.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 A$5.92
$3.18 ฿102
30.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 A$3.64
$0.96 ฿30.78
164.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.2 A$91.9
$18.90 ฿604
239.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 A$3.36
$1.36 ฿43.41
72.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 A$2.27
$1.35 ฿43.23
17.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.06 A$48.70
$8.03 ฿257
324.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 A$1.76
$1.24 ฿39.74
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K A$41.0K
$21.2K ฿676.6K
35.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$32.3K
$21.8K ฿695.5K
3.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 A$211
$71.2 ฿2,277
106.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.93 A$18.49
$14.09 ฿450
-8.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.55 A$55.1
$17.47 ฿559
120.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.67 A$71.0
$42.07 ฿1,345
18.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 A$22.37
$6.88 ฿220
127.47%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 A$18.37
$5.94 ฿190
116.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,648 A$2,357
$307 ฿9,827
436.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,852 A$12.7K
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-40.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.1 A$94.5
$55.7 ฿1,780
18.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.48 A$27.85
$26.79 ฿856
-27.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 A$92.1
$83.2 ฿2,661
-22.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 A$145
$70.1 ฿2,241
44.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 A$1,824
$427 ฿13.7K
198.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 A$1,551
$237 ฿7,580
357.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 A$2,886
$802 ฿25.6K
151.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 A$2,449
$503 ฿16.1K
240.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K A$20.7K
$2,061 ฿65.9K
600.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.5K A$15.0K
$1,533 ฿49.0K
586.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byron Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,048 A$7,219
$654 ฿20.9K
672.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
5
24.80%

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

Last update for Byron Bay: February 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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