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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $324 in Barisal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $491 in Barisal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $658 in Barisal, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 168% more than Barisal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Barisal are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Barisal 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.08 ৳133

79.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$5.63 ৳691

231.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.20 ৳638

50.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.21 ৳517

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ৳568

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.69 ৳84.8

182.61%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.16 ৳20.17

431.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.10 ৳11.75

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.69 ৳84.5

147.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.64 ৳78.3

154.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.56 ৳68.9

103.57%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.22 ৳149

58.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.03 ৳740

168.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.56 ৳314

21.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.69 ৳820

62.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.96 ৳240

40.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.94 ৳116

28.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.74 ৳214

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.53 ৳64.5

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.32 ৳39.42

337.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.40 ৳49.54

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.36 ৳43.64

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.29 ৳35.25

82.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$6.97 ৳856

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.68 ৳451

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 ৳596

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.36 ৳412

39.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.30 ৳37.01

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.32 ৳1,267

86.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.69 ৳84.2

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.22 ৳27.04

486.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.99 ৳244

293.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.85 ৳104

49.41%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$29.0K ৳3.6M

-26.66%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$27.9K ৳3.4M

-20.33%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$30.62 ৳3,756

125.57%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.19 ৳636

171.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.33 ৳2,740

-19.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$9.81 ৳1,203

318.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.16 ৳1,001

-14.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.26 ৳400

81.60%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$17.44 ৳2,140

1614.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,281 ৳157.1K

1067.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$16.01 ৳1,964

241.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$16.24 ৳1,993

64.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$28.46 ৳3,492

198.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$28.69 ৳3,520

146.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$81.4 ৳9,987

425.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$63.3 ৳7,764

275.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$135 ৳16.5K

494.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$94.5 ৳11.6K

445.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$353 ৳43.4K

458.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$454 ৳55.6K

225.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$168 ৳20.6K

267.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.08

-44.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barisal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $81.4 in Barisal. 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 268% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Barisal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $103 – making Barisal 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 Barisal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 168%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $486 in Barisal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 86% less in Barisal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $17.44 in Barisal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $324 in Barisal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Barisal – 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 Barisal. 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.