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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $929 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,382 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,834 in Bečej.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 8% less than in Bečej, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bečej 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$6.87 RSD 689

-71.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$35.07 RSD 3,518

-46.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.81 RSD 984

-19.27%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.17 RSD 117

63.25%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.45 RSD 145

-42.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.83 RSD 82.8

-57.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.51 RSD 152

46.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.92 RSD 193

97.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.01 RSD 101

62.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.88 RSD 87.8

84.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.46 RSD 146

-19.18%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.18 RSD 218

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.14 RSD 917

73.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.10 RSD 712

-57.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.47 RSD 749

44.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.02 RSD 102

155.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.95 RSD 196

-37.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.57 RSD 157

8.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.93 RSD 193

-18.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.66 RSD 66.5

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.36 RSD 36.26

225.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.66 RSD 66.6

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.56 RSD 56.2

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.06 RSD 407

11.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$4.05 RSD 406

349.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.71 RSD 71.5

157.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.95 RSD 95.7

240.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.94 RSD 94.0

-5.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$28.25 RSD 2,835

-31.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.01 RSD 202

-32.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.74 RSD 74.6

82.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$9.79 RSD 982

-15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.80 RSD 181

-29.44%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

-31.74%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

-14.99%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$64.3 RSD 6,446

9.18%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.80 RSD 983

40.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$23.80 RSD 2,388

-26.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$30.98 RSD 3,109

34.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$16.65 RSD 1,670

-60.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.82 RSD 785

-26.09%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$446 RSD 44.8K

-31.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,096 RSD 511.3K

190.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$102 RSD 10.2K

-46.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$42.70 RSD 4,284

-38.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$65.0 RSD 6,521

30.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$118 RSD 11.8K

-40.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$376 RSD 37.7K

12.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$299 RSD 30.0K

-20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$568 RSD 57.0K

45.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$412 RSD 41.3K

25.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,222 RSD 222.9K

-7.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,387 RSD 139.2K

9.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$540 RSD 54.2K

17.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.59

-10.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bečej: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $376 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $35.00 in Bečej. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $177, with Bečej 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 Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $376 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $929 in Bečej – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 46% less than in Bečej. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bečej 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 9% less than in Bečej. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.