Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bakau

For one person, living is cheaper in Bakau: $323 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Bakau

🇬🇲 Gambia

$323

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bakau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bakau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $323 in Bakau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Bakau $323

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Bakau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Bakau $725

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Bakau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Bakau $1,127

Chiang Mai costs about 189% more than Bakau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bakau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bakau 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$5.36 GMD 397

-58.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$75.9 GMD 5,620

-74.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.81 GMD 578

-28.94%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.97 GMD 294

-57.93%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$2.25 GMD 166

-71.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.13 GMD 83.4

-72.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$3.76 GMD 279

-37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.67 GMD 272

-0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$2.39 GMD 177

-18.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$5.14 GMD 381

-55.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$16.56 GMD 1,227

-83.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$13.45 GMD 997

30.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$2.01 GMD 149

-19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.78 GMD 206

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$68.4 GMD 5,068

826.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bakau: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Bakau

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Bakau

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Bakau

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Bakau

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Bakau

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Bakau

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Bakau

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $76 in Bakau. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Bakau – so Bakau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇲 Bakau

🕒 Local time

08:59 8:59 AM

01:59 1:59 AM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

43,098

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Gambian Dalasi GMD D

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 GMD = 1.35 USD

100 GMD = 1.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 74.1 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 82.74 GMD (100 GMD = 1.21 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Bakau 12,110 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bakau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bakau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 189% more than Bakau, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $485 in Bakau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $323 in Bakau. That makes Bakau about 65% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Bakau 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 $323 in Bakau to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.