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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $573 in Bakixanov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $965 in Bakixanov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,357 in Bakixanov.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 49% more expensive than Bakixanov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bakixanov 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.73 ₼14.84

-77.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$35.31 ₼60.0

-46.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.77 ₼9.81

37.26%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.61 ₼4.44

-26.82%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.61 ₼1.04

37.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.28 ₼0.47

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.15 ₼1.95

92.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.72 ₼2.92

120.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.34 ₼2.28

22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.51 ₼0.86

217.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.33 ₼3.97

-49.36%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.35 ₼2.29

48.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.20 ₼8.83

205.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.70 ₼7.99

-35.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.42 ₼17.72

3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.33 ₼2.26

96.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.76 ₼2.99

-30.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.53 ₼2.60

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.80 ₼3.05

-12.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.78 ₼1.33

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.49 ₼0.83

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.43 ₼0.72

55.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.65 ₼1.11

-13.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.48 ₼5.91

30.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.92 ₼15.16

104.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.38 ₼2.35

32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.82 ₼4.79

14.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₼0.51

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.11 ₼3.59

-36.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.56 ₼0.96

141.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$3.45 ₼5.86

139.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.70 ₼1.19

81.43%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.6K ₼35.0K

2.77%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.6K ₼38.4K

-0.35%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$61.2 ₼104

14.70%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$11.92 ₼20.27

15.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.11 ₼25.69

16.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.04 ₼10.27

-4.30%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$254 ₼431

20.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,663 ₼11.3K

122.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$58.6 ₼99.6

-7.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$54.6 ₼92.9

-52.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$122 ₼208

-30.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$97.9 ₼166

-29.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

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 %)

8.87

-43.63%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bakixanov: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $35.00 in Bakixanov. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $179, with Bakixanov cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bakixanov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bakixanov differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $573 including rent). Bakixanov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $860 in Bakixanov to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $573 in Bakixanov – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bakixanov gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bakixanov are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bakixanov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.