Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barra

For one person, living is cheaper in Barra: $104 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Barra

🇬🇲 Gambia

$104

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Barra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Barra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $104 in Barra, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Barra $104

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Barra, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Barra $177

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $250 in Barra, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Barra $250

Chiang Mai costs about 798% more than Barra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Barra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Barra 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.96 GMD 71.5

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.47 GMD 183

-7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$7.20 GMD 533

-61.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.99 GMD 147

-51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.72 GMD 202

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$2.01 GMD 149

-25.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.11 GMD 81.9

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.80 GMD 59.0

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.45 GMD 33.15

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.11 GMD 82.1

45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Barra: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Barra

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Barra

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Barra

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Barra

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Barra

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Barra

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Barra

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇲 Barra

🕒 Local time

06:47 6:47 AM

23:47 11:47 PM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

6,020

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Gambian Dalasi GMD D

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 GMD = 1.35 USD

100 GMD = 1.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 74.1 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 82.49 GMD (100 GMD = 1.21 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Barra 12,090 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Barra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Barra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 798%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $156 in Barra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $104 in Barra. That makes Barra about 89% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 125% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $104 in Barra to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.