🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Cazin versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,275 in Cazin versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,699 in Cazin versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Cazin costs roughly 1% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cazin36% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.86BAM 8.30
$1.96฿65.9
147.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.99BAM 41.02
$18.35฿617
30.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.01BAM 15.41
$7.48฿252
20.45%
Cappuccino
$1.15BAM 1.97
$2.02฿67.8
-43.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84BAM 3.15
$0.85฿28.52
116.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25BAM 2.14
$0.36฿11.97
247.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65BAM 2.82
$2.14฿71.9
-22.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39BAM 4.08
$3.59฿121
-33.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21BAM 2.08
$1.65฿55.5
-26.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13BAM 1.93
$1.57฿52.7
-28.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04BAM 3.49
$1.19฿40.05
71.43%
Eggs
$2.22BAM 3.79
$1.94฿65.1
14.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.52BAM 17.99
$16.19฿545
-35.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.07BAM 12.09
$2.99฿101
136.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41BAM 22.94
$10.94฿368
22.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56BAM 2.68
$2.71฿91.2
-42.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80BAM 3.09
$1.17฿39.27
53.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.87
$1.69฿56.8
-0.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.88
$1.60฿54.0
5.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08BAM 1.84
$1.38฿46.56
-21.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20BAM 2.06
$1.20฿40.47
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22BAM 2.08
$0.67฿22.51
82.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75BAM 1.27
$0.56฿18.74
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60BAM 6.16
$4.64฿156
-22.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08BAM 13.82
$17.62฿593
-54.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09BAM 1.87
$1.86฿62.6
-41.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17BAM 1.99
$3.30฿111
-64.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73BAM 2.97
$0.88฿29.70
96.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.40BAM 62.3
$19.34฿651
88.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50BAM 2.56
$1.36฿45.92
10.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83BAM 1.42
$1.34฿45.00
-38.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.86BAM 15.16
$8.21฿276
7.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51BAM 2.59
$1.22฿41.20
23.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KBAM 41.0K
$21.4K฿718.5K
12.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KBAM 45.0K
$22.5K฿758.1K
16.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118BAM 202
$70.7฿2,378
67.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.66BAM 31.91
$14.04฿472
32.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.01BAM 51.3
$17.49฿589
71.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.27BAM 43.22
$42.15฿1,418
-40.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85BAM 18.56
$6.88฿231
57.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.29BAM 7.33
$5.92฿199
-27.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$258BAM 441
$309฿10.4K
-16.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,439BAM 5,881
$14.9K฿500.7K
-76.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.94BAM 71.7
$55.8฿1,876
-24.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.99BAM 51.3
$26.11฿879
14.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.67BAM 85.0
$83.0฿2,793
-40.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6BAM 138
$70.5฿2,371
14.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$238BAM 407
$432฿14.5K
-44.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179BAM 307
$239฿8,040
-24.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$375BAM 642
$822฿27.7K
-54.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281BAM 481
$512฿17.2K
-45.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,309BAM 2,240
$1,915฿64.4K
-31.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,159BAM 1,983
$1,467฿49.4K
-20.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cazin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$712BAM 1,218
$579฿19.5K
22.90%
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 Cazin: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Cazin and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cazin pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cazin vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $243, with Cazin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cazin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cazin and in Chiang Mai?
Cazin and Chiang Mai differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($850 vs $861 including rent). Cazin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cazin or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 23% higher in Cazin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Cazin and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Cazin versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cazin – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cazin or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Cazin versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Cazin compared to Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cazin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Cazin and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cazin or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cazin 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.
Where should expats move: Cazin or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Cazin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.