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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,967 in Barrigada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $3,782 in Barrigada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $4,597 in Barrigada.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 71% less than in Barrigada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Barrigada is 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$99.0 $99.0

-81.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.67 $3.67

-46.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.86 $1.86

-54.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.89 $2.89

-26.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.64 $3.64

2.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.51 $3.51

-51.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.75 $4.75

-59.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.93 $6.93

-32.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

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 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.56 $1.56

-18.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$416 $416

-83.40%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$98.2 $98.2

-85.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$79.5 $79.5

-77.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

$717 $717

-58.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$2,440 $2,440

-82.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$2,208 $2,208

-89.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$3,336 $3,336

-75.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$3,218 $3,218

-83.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$4,802 $4,802

-87.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barrigada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 678% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $99.0 in Barrigada. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $54.0, with Barrigada cheaper for home cooking.

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 Barrigada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 242% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Barrigada earns 678% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Barrigada pay roughly 356% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $2,967 in Barrigada – a 242% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,967 in Barrigada, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Barrigada. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barrigada, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Barrigada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 242% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.