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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $324 in Begamganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $529 in Begamganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Begamganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 168% more than Begamganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Begamganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Begamganj 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.69 ৳207

17.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.04 ৳1,231

87.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.78 ৳586

62.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ৳488

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ৳566

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.47 ৳180

30.61%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.32 ৳39.17

146.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ৳21.35

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.66 ৳81.1

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.56 ৳68.4

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.62 ৳75.8

91.94%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.17 ৳143

70.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.95 ৳851

129.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.56 ৳313

18.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.09 ৳746

78.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.14 ৳263

28.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.95 ৳117

24.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.06 ৳253

-20.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.62 ৳75.6

145.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.41 ৳49.82

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.56 ৳68.5

112.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ৳40.28

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.26 ৳31.47

115.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.83 ৳1,082

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 ৳275

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ৳589

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.93 ৳359

56.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.20 ৳24.51

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.31 ৳1,263

81.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.80 ৳98.5

70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.42 ৳51.6

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.11 ৳259

271.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.00 ৳123

23.00%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.1K ৳3.4M

-23.17%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-20.97%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$30.56 ৳3,745

130.82%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.85 ৳594

182.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.12 ৳1,607

33.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.52 ৳1,657

205.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.68 ৳1,431

-40.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.12 ৳504

40.05%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$27.58 ৳3,380

1013.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$933 ৳114.3K

1465.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$16.34 ৳2,002

241.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$17.81 ৳2,183

47.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$33.16 ৳4,063

158.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$33.64 ৳4,123

114.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$70.2 ৳8,596

512.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$41.17 ৳5,044

479.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$165 ৳20.2K

396.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$97.7 ৳12.0K

422.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$668 ৳81.9K

196.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.29

-51.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Begamganj: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $70.2 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Begamganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $106 – 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 168% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $487 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.

Groceries cost about 128% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $10.00 in Begamganj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $324 in Begamganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Begamganj costs $324 versus $869 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.