🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $978 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,604 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $2,230 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 11% less than in Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai35% lower, Beau Vallon27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$6.48MUR 305
-69.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$44.66MUR 2,103
-57.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$6.47MUR 305
19.78%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$2.65MUR 125
-27.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$1.03MUR 48.47
-23.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.55MUR 26.06
-34.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.16MUR 102
2.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.68MUR 126
36.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.50MUR 70.5
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.65MUR 30.71
150.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.32MUR 62.0
-9.85%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$2.35MUR 111
-14.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$9.99MUR 471
59.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$6.11MUR 288
-50.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$10.59MUR 499
2.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$1.97MUR 92.8
40.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$1.98MUR 93.1
-40.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.45MUR 68.4
13.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$2.71MUR 127
-43.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.99MUR 46.39
39.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.95MUR 44.57
25.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.85MUR 40.22
-17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.58MUR 27.10
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$6.03MUR 284
-24.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$9.03MUR 425
83.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.78MUR 83.7
2.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$2.20MUR 104
45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$1.05MUR 49.41
-16.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$4.47MUR 210
-69.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$2.74MUR 129
-51.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$15.11MUR 711
-48.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.40MUR 66.0
-12.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$35.6KMUR 1.7M
-39.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
-22.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$49.27MUR 2,320
43.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$18.63MUR 877
-26.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$32.82MUR 1,545
-46.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$38.87MUR 1,830
6.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$5.89MUR 277
-2.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$156MUR 7,336
97.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$3,906MUR 183.9K
274.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$50.2MUR 2,364
11.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$43.61MUR 2,054
-39.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$83.6MUR 3,936
2.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$79.5MUR 3,743
-9.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$522MUR 24.6K
-17.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$355MUR 16.7K
-32.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$961MUR 45.3K
-14.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$729MUR 34.3K
-29.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.25
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Beau Vallon: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $45.00 in Beau Vallon. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $216, with Beau Vallon 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 Beau Vallon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beau Vallon cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $1,467 in Beau Vallon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Beau Vallon?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and Beau Vallon?
Shoppers in Beau Vallon pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai vs Beau Vallon?
All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $978 in Beau Vallon – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Beau Vallon?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $978 in Beau Vallon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Beau Vallon. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Beau Vallon more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beau Vallon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Beau Vallon?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Beau Vallon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Beau Vallon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared