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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $161 in Baidoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $290 in Baidoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $419 in Baidoa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 429% more than Baidoa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Baidoa 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.01 SOS 1,151

-18.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.22 SOS 696

-3.28%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.52 SOS 2,011

-42.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$8.93 SOS 5,104

-66.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.88 SOS 3,931

56.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$9.98 SOS 5,706

444.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$20.13 SOS 11.5K

319.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$30.39 SOS 17.4K

128.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$49.09 SOS 28.1K

763.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$30.29 SOS 17.3K

686.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$151 SOS 86.1K

447.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$88.5 SOS 50.6K

482.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baidoa: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $49.09 in Baidoa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Baidoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $161 in Baidoa – roughly 429% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $241 in Baidoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baidoa, 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $161 in Baidoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 133% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $161 in Baidoa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $161 in Baidoa to $852 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 Baidoa. 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.