Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bandar Seri Begawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bandar Seri Begawan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,148 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,727 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,306 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 25% cheaper than Bandar Seri Begawan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Bandar Seri Begawan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bandar Seri Begawan 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.75 BND 4.84

-47.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$27.73 BND 35.79

-33.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.24 BND 8.05

19.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BND 2.94

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.81 BND 4.92

-46.98%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.00 BND 1.29

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.58 BND 0.74

-37.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.92 BND 2.48

-14.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.79 BND 2.31

-12.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.23 BND 1.59

-3.25%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.20 BND 2.84

-11.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.47 BND 9.65

116.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.53 BND 5.85

-34.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.09 BND 14.31

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.28 BND 4.24

-17.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.55 BND 3.29

-54.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$3.20 BND 4.13

-47.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.85 BND 3.67

-43.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.70 BND 2.19

-18.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.16 BND 2.79

-44.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$3.57 BND 4.60

-81.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.83 BND 1.07

-32.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.67 BND 16.35

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BND 4.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 BND 2.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$15.63 BND 20.18

-70.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.74 BND 0.96

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$4.82 BND 6.22

-71.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.64 BND 3.40

-49.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$11.49 BND 14.83

-28.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.38 BND 0.49

221.05%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$39.3K BND 50.8K

-45.73%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$36.6K BND 47.2K

-38.42%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$60.4 BND 78.0

16.98%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$22.12 BND 28.55

-36.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$64.2 BND 82.9

-72.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.32 BND 48.17

12.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$2.84 BND 3.67

142.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.56 BND 7.18

6.47%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$161 BND 208

91.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,584 BND 12.4K

55.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$97.0 BND 125

-42.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$69.0 BND 89.1

-62.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$108 BND 139

-23.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$64.1 BND 82.7

9.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$739 BND 953

-41.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$458 BND 591

-47.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,324 BND 1,709

-37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$812 BND 1,048

-36.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,009 BND 3,884

-36.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,268 BND 2,927

-35.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,954 BND 2,522

-70.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

23.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $739 in Bandar Seri Begawan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 237% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $222 in Bandar Seri Begawan – so Bandar Seri Begawan 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 Bandar Seri Begawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bandar Seri Begawan is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,722 in Bandar Seri Begawan. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Bandar Seri Begawan at $1,148. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bandar Seri Begawan 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, Bandar Seri Begawan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.