😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $601 in Bac Ninh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Bac Ninh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,373 in Bac Ninh, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Bac Ninh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Bac Ninh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Bac Ninh55% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$1.17₫30.8K
67.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$27.30₫716.2K
-31.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$2.54₫66.5K
211.81%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.18₫30.9K
61.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.26₫6,771
223.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.17₫4,386
105.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$0.72₫19.0K
206.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$0.94₫24.7K
304.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.42₫37.3K
15.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.94₫24.6K
72.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.85₫22.4K
38.82%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.52₫39.9K
32.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$9.32₫244.5K
70.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$3.81₫99.9K
-21.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$9.52₫249.6K
13.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$3.23₫84.8K
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.01₫26.5K
20.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.63₫42.9K
4.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$1.11₫29.1K
42.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.03₫27.1K
28.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.05₫27.7K
11.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.52₫13.6K
28.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.53₫14.0K
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$1.38₫36.1K
228.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$14.25₫373.8K
27.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$0.92₫24.1K
98.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.84₫48.2K
75.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.31₫8,255
187.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$6.47₫169.8K
199.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.80₫20.9K
68.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.57₫15.0K
136.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$1.65₫43.3K
400.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.91₫23.8K
39.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$38.1K₫998.9M
-44.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$32.1K₫841.6M
-29.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$79.8₫2.1M
-12.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$5.27₫138.2K
161.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$6.72₫176.3K
161.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$11.63₫305.1K
257.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$7.74₫203.1K
-14.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$3.11₫81.5K
85.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$270₫7.1M
13.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$6,473₫169.8M
129.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$45.21₫1.2M
20.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$23.38₫613.4K
11.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$88.5₫2.3M
-4.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$72.6₫1.9M
-4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$268₫7.0M
57.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$151₫4.0M
58.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$577₫15.1M
43.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$342₫9.0M
50.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$1,650₫43.3M
24.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$747₫19.6M
103.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bac Ninh
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$370₫9.7M
71.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.1
-45.05%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Bac Ninh: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $268 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 72% 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $193 in Bac Ninh – so Bac Ninh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Chiang Mai vs Bac Ninh: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Bac Ninh?
Chiang Mai costs about 42% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Bac Ninh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $901 in Bac Ninh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Bac Ninh?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Bac Ninh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $601 in Bac Ninh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai vs Bac Ninh?
Public transport costs about 200% less in Bac Ninh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Bac Ninh?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $601 in Bac Ninh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Bac Ninh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bac Ninh costs $601 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Bac Ninh?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Bac Ninh?
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.
Chiang Mai vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado