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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,838 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,474 in Ballsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Ballsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ballsh 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.72 ALL 959

-83.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$59.1 ALL 4,832

-68.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.81 ALL 557

14.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.03 ALL 166

-3.94%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.45 ALL 119

-41.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.90 ALL 73.9

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.97 ALL 243

-28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.19 ALL 343

-10.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.12 ALL 174

-19.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.14 ALL 93.0

42.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.16 ALL 177

-47.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.89 ALL 318

-50.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.34 ALL 1,091

21.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.70 ALL 630

-59.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.67 ALL 1,282

-30.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.77 ALL 145

55.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.78 ALL 228

-56.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.04 ALL 167

-20.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.98 ALL 162

-19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.33 ALL 109

5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.32 ALL 108

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.45 ALL 119

-54.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.80 ALL 65.6

-33.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.37 ALL 357

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.96 ALL 897

70.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.62 ALL 133

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.07 ALL 170

56.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.48 ALL 39.46

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$19.01 ALL 1,555

1.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.55 ALL 291

-60.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.23 ALL 264

-60.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.99 ALL 1,472

-56.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.15 ALL 176

-40.93%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$40.8K ALL 3.3M

-47.83%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$35.3K ALL 2.9M

-37.13%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$107 ALL 8,763

-35.52%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.78 ALL 1,455

-20.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$18.41 ALL 1,506

-2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$55.6 ALL 4,545

-26.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.45 ALL 2,082

-72.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.21 ALL 754

-35.72%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$159 ALL 13.0K

87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,513 ALL 451.1K

171.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$67.1 ALL 5,486

-18.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$50.2 ALL 4,104

-46.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$109 ALL 8,922

-22.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$129 ALL 10.6K

-45.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$444 ALL 36.4K

-3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$347 ALL 28.4K

-31.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$615 ALL 50.3K

30.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$433 ALL 35.4K

19.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,749 ALL 143.1K

12.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,196 ALL 97.8K

23.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-9.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $444 in Ballsh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $59.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $282 – making Chiang Mai 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 Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ballsh is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,803 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Ballsh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $59.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Ballsh at $1,202. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballsh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.