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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $593 in Bakuriani, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $956 in Bakuriani, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,319 in Bakuriani, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Bakuriani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bakuriani are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bakuriani 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.67 ₾23.31

-77.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$29.28 ₾78.8

-35.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.38 ₾19.86

7.32%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.65 ₾7.13

-27.92%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.85 ₾2.28

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.41 ₾1.10

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.50 ₾4.03

47.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.18 ₾5.86

74.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.79 ₾4.83

-8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.51 ₾1.36

217.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.54 ₾4.14

-23.38%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.30 ₾6.19

-12.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.03 ₾18.92

126.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.09 ₾13.70

-40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.79 ₾23.66

22.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.07 ₾2.88

143.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.43 ₾3.84

-14.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.29 ₾3.48

31.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.73 ₾4.64

-8.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.56 ₾1.50

135.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.52 ₾1.40

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.30 ₾3.50

-48.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.64 ₾1.73

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.00 ₾8.08

51.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.62 ₾15.13

223.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.30 ₾3.49

40.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.94 ₾5.22

66.49%

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

$1.07 ₾2.88

26.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.55 ₾1.48

145.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.90 ₾7.80

184.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.17 ₾3.14

8.55%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.7K ₾39.5K

44.03%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$18.3K ₾49.2K

22.94%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$73.9 ₾199

-5.11%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$10.64 ₾28.62

29.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$17.09 ₾45.98

2.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.55 ₾14.92

4.14%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$241 ₾649

26.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,881 ₾7,749

414.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$86.7 ₾233

-37.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$41.55 ₾112

-37.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$120 ₾322

-29.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$103 ₾277

-32.68%

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 %)

12.17

-58.92%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bakuriani: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Bakuriani. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Bakuriani – so Bakuriani wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bakuriani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Bakuriani, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $890 in Bakuriani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $593 in Bakuriani. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $241 in Bakuriani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $593 in Bakuriani, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakuriani costs $593 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bakuriani. 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.