Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Baglung Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Baglung

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $380 in Baglung, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $596 in Baglung, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 in Baglung, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 146% more than Baglung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Baglung are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Baglung 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$1.93 NPR 297

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$9.87 NPR 1,515

98.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.03 NPR 1,231

-29.39%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.61 NPR 246

12.42%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.56 NPR 85.5

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.17 NPR 25.36

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.35 NPR 361

-5.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.36 NPR 516

12.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.76 NPR 116

169.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.37 NPR 57.5

308.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.77 NPR 118

81.82%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.61 NPR 247

40.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$7.46 NPR 1,145

117.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.37 NPR 517

-13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$5.96 NPR 914

58.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.01 NPR 308

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.09 NPR 167

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.62 NPR 95.0

161.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.57 NPR 87.2

156.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.38 NPR 58.7

236.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.51 NPR 77.5

107.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.25 NPR 37.96

188.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.23 NPR 35.05

130.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.63 NPR 404

60.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$8.02 NPR 1,230

128.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.21 NPR 340

-26.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.01 NPR 462

-3.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.54 NPR 82.1

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$7.79 NPR 1,195

590.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.02 NPR 156

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.29 NPR 198

-55.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$3.20 NPR 491

-25.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.13 NPR 174

28.32%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$25.9K NPR 4.0M

-18.99%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$35.4K NPR 5.4M

-25.42%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$32.01 NPR 4,911

98.84%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.36 NPR 516

283.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$7.98 NPR 1,224

157.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$25.69 NPR 3,941

51.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$3.32 NPR 510

18.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$2.97 NPR 455

121.55%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$39.41 NPR 6,047

1889.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$4,768 NPR 731.5K

207.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$26.28 NPR 4,031

109.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$28.96 NPR 4,442

-14.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$66.4 NPR 10.2K

41.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$29.45 NPR 4,517

151.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$3,223 NPR 494.4K

-38.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$2,301 NPR 352.9K

-37.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$166 NPR 25.5K

261.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baglung: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 262% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Baglung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $139 – making Baglung 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

Chiang Mai vs Baglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $380 in Baglung – roughly 146% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $570 in Baglung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $380 in Baglung. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 590% less in Baglung. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Baglung, where all-in costs run around $380, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Baglung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $380 in Baglung to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Baglung. 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.