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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,420 in Bedzin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,059 in Bedzin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,698 in Bedzin, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Bedzin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% 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
$1.94 ฿63.5
$10.68 zł 38.95
-81.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$42.26 zł 154
-55.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$7.95 zł 29.00
-1.64%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$3.40 zł 12.42
-42.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$1.98 zł 7.22
-57.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$1.63 zł 5.96
-78.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$3.18 zł 11.61
-33.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$3.63 zł 13.24
2.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.03 zł 3.76
66.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.31 zł 4.77
24.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.39 zł 5.07
-17.99%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$3.33 zł 12.14
-42.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$9.13 zł 33.31
77.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$5.42 zł 19.78
-42.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$11.03 zł 40.23
-1.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.03 zł 3.76
166.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.74 zł 6.36
-30.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.71 zł 6.22
-5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$2.84 zł 10.35
-44.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$0.97 zł 3.54
44.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$1.12 zł 4.10
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$1.24 zł 4.53
-46.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.51 zł 1.86
3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$5.17 zł 18.84
-9.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$7.06 zł 25.73
164.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.12 zł 4.09
60.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.67 zł 6.11
93.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$1.12 zł 4.08
-19.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$32.66 zł 119
-41.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$2.23 zł 8.13
-36.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.77 zł 2.81
67.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$10.99 zł 40.09
-28.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.75 zł 6.38
-27.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$33.7K zł 123.0K
-36.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$29.6K zł 108.0K
-25.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$276 zł 1,005
-74.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$8.36 zł 30.50
68.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$16.62 zł 60.6
8.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$36.89 zł 135
11.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$19.80 zł 72.2
-64.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$6.90 zł 25.17
-14.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$341 zł 1,242
-12.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$8,056 zł 29.4K
85.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$89.6 zł 327
-38.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$36.15 zł 132
-25.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$80.7 zł 294
5.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$93.6 zł 341
-24.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$661 zł 2,409
-35.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$502 zł 1,830
-52.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$981 zł 3,578
-18.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$815 zł 2,970
-36.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$2,961 zł 10.8K
-33.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$2,541 zł 9,266
-41.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bedzin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$991 zł 3,613
-37.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.75
-25.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bedzin: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $661 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 60% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Bedzin. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $206 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 64%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,129 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 vs Bedzin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,420 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 70% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Bedzin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Bedzin at $1,420. 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.

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