Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bac Ninh Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bac Ninh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $604 in Bac Ninh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $986 in Bac Ninh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,367 in Bac Ninh, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Bac Ninh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bac Ninh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bac Ninh 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.16 ₫30.5K

70.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$26.98 ₫708.3K

-30.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.59 ₫67.9K

199.23%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.14 ₫29.9K

68.42%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.26 ₫6,766

203.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ₫4,535

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.66 ₫17.2K

234.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$0.93 ₫24.4K

293.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.43 ₫37.6K

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.96 ₫25.3K

69.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.92 ₫24.1K

29.35%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.54 ₫40.5K

29.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.99 ₫235.9K

77.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.73 ₫98.0K

-18.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.57 ₫251.1K

13.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.38 ₫88.6K

-18.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.06 ₫27.8K

11.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.66 ₫43.5K

-1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.08 ₫28.4K

40.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.07 ₫28.1K

28.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.05 ₫27.7K

13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.56 ₫14.7K

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.57 ₫14.9K

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.33 ₫34.8K

244.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$13.11 ₫344.2K

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.89 ₫23.4K

105.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.74 ₫45.7K

83.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.34 ₫8,949

158.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$6.66 ₫174.8K

181.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.80 ₫21.0K

70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.58 ₫15.1K

131.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.60 ₫42.1K

390.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.89 ₫23.4K

38.20%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$38.0K ₫997.1M

-43.07%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$31.9K ₫836.5M

-29.25%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$77.8 ₫2.0M

-9.37%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.19 ₫136.3K

163.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$6.88 ₫180.6K

153.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$11.34 ₫297.6K

264.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.44 ₫195.4K

-6.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.16 ₫82.9K

82.59%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$265 ₫6.9M

16.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$6,450 ₫169.3M

126.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$43.84 ₫1.2M

27.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$22.99 ₫603.6K

14.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$89.5 ₫2.3M

-4.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$73.3 ₫1.9M

-1.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$270 ₫7.1M

59.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$153 ₫4.0M

56.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$575 ₫15.1M

42.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$351 ₫9.2M

45.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,624 ₫42.6M

22.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$763 ₫20.0M

94.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$370 ₫9.7M

67.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

-45.05%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bac Ninh: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Bac Ninh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 67% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Bac Ninh. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Bac Ninh – so Bac Ninh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai vs Bac Ninh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Bac Ninh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $906 in Bac Ninh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bac Ninh, 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $604 in Bac Ninh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 181% less in Bac Ninh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $604 in Bac Ninh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bac Ninh costs $604 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bac Ninh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.