🙂A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,468 in Bedzin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,166 in Bedzin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,864 in Bedzin, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Bedzin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Bedzin is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$10.86zł 40.44
-80.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$43.66zł 163
-54.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$8.64zł 32.16
-32.99%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$3.51zł 13.06
-47.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$2.20zł 8.21
-64.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$1.73zł 6.43
-82.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$3.66zł 13.65
-36.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$4.00zł 14.88
-7.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$1.00zł 3.71
103.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$1.27zł 4.73
25.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.50zł 5.59
-5.33%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$3.40zł 12.65
-35.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$8.86zł 32.97
79.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$5.54zł 20.63
-44.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$12.34zł 45.96
-20.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$1.14zł 4.23
130.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$1.73zł 6.45
-36.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.73zł 6.43
-5.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$2.63zł 9.80
-41.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.93zł 3.47
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$1.05zł 3.91
7.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$1.36zł 5.07
-45.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.54zł 2.01
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$5.43zł 20.21
-21.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$6.65zł 24.75
170.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$1.17zł 4.36
45.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$1.52zł 5.65
90.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94฿31.13
$1.14zł 4.25
-17.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3฿1,827
$30.79zł 115
79.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.76
$2.18zł 8.11
-43.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$0.83zł 3.11
-36.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$10.66zł 39.68
-77.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$1.79zł 6.66
-19.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$32.3Kzł 120.3K
-34.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$28.1Kzł 104.8K
-3.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9฿2,145
$297zł 1,105
-78.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$9.37zł 34.91
42.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$17.63zł 65.7
18.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$39.59zł 147
2.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
$23.60zł 87.9
-83.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$7.48zł 27.86
-10.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$361zł 1,346
117.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$7,919zł 29.5K
90.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$85.5zł 318
-34.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$38.98zł 145
-35.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$94.2zł 351
-1.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$106zł 394
-28.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$637zł 2,371
-24.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$529zł 1,971
-45.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$1,045zł 3,890
-12.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$866zł 3,225
-38.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,980฿65.4K
$3,040zł 11.3K
-34.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿47.9K
$2,337zł 8,703
-37.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605฿20.0K
$989zł 3,683
-38.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.79
-17.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Last update for Bedzin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $637 in Bedzin. 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 63% higher in Bedzin, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Bedzin. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $209 in Bedzin – so Bedzin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Bedzin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bedzin cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Bedzin is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,202 in Bedzin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Bedzin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $1,468 in Bedzin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 80% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Bedzin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Bedzin at $1,468. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bedzin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Bedzin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Bedzin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bedzin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared