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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $330 in Begamganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $540 in Begamganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $750 in Begamganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 188% more than Begamganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Begamganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Begamganj 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$1.49 ৳183

40.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.50 ৳1,290

88.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$4.92 ৳605

17.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ৳332

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 ৳501

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$1.88 ৳231

-2.66%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$0.30 ৳36.53

160.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.16 ৳19.33

93.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.70 ৳86.1

190.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$0.50 ৳61.1

220.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$0.59 ৳72.0

140.68%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$1.17 ৳143

86.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.61 ৳935

109.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.23 ৳273

37.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$6.46 ৳793

52.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$2.53 ৳311

3.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$0.84 ৳104

30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$2.19 ৳269

-25.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.61 ৳74.9

150.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$0.25 ৳30.87

396.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$0.48 ৳58.4

135.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$0.48 ৳59.1

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$0.28 ৳33.86

78.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.57 ৳1,053

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ৳311

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ৳563

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$3.06 ৳376

39.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

$0.39 ৳48.39

141.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$0.84 ৳103

46.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$0.39 ৳48.23

35.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$2.80 ৳344

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$1.11 ৳136

29.73%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$29.9K ৳3.7M

-29.03%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$32.6K ৳4.0M

-16.24%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$30.43 ৳3,739

113.37%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$4.03 ৳495

231.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$11.65 ৳1,431

78.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

$13.71 ৳1,685

194.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.69 ৳453

81.84%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$25.37 ৳3,116

3002.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$1,197 ৳147.0K

1163.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$16.94 ৳2,081

231.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$18.67 ৳2,293

33.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$32.02 ৳3,934

189.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$33.86 ৳4,159

121.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$86.6 ৳10.6K

458.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

$51.7 ৳6,351

455.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$168 ৳20.6K

441.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$114 ৳14.0K

366.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

$705 ৳86.6K

180.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.44

-46.65%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Begamganj: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $86.6 in Begamganj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Begamganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $109 – making Begamganj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Begamganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 188% more than Begamganj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $495 in Begamganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Begamganj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $11.00 in Begamganj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 123% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Begamganj, where all-in costs run around $330, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Begamganj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Begamganj costs $330 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Begamganj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.