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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $329 in Begamganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $526 in Begamganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $724 in Begamganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 159% more than Begamganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Begamganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Begamganj 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.61 ৳197

21.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$9.58 ৳1,176

96.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.82 ৳592

64.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 ৳512

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 ৳575

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.49 ৳183

28.19%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.31 ৳38.62

170.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.16 ৳19.15

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.65 ৳79.6

152.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.59 ৳72.7

174.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.57 ৳69.5

107.02%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.16 ৳143

73.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.00 ৳859

127.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.49 ৳305

20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.11 ৳750

76.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.22 ৳273

17.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.02 ৳125

19.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.11 ৳258

-19.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.67 ৳82.1

135.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.44 ৳53.9

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.59 ৳72.3

98.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.33 ৳40.43

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.28 ৳34.68

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.76 ৳952

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 ৳275

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 ৳607

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.94 ৳361

54.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.20 ৳24.51

345.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$10.39 ৳1,276

86.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.83 ৳102

62.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.40 ৳48.76

237.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.01 ৳246

310.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.04 ৳128

22.12%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$28.3K ৳3.5M

-25.12%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.0K ৳3.4M

-19.66%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$29.87 ৳3,667

134.85%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.81 ৳590

186.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$12.91 ৳1,585

36.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$13.41 ৳1,647

209.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.68 ৳1,434

-43.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.00 ৳491

44.50%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$27.23 ৳3,342

1024.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$933 ৳114.5K

1489.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$16.22 ৳1,991

235.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$18.00 ৳2,210

45.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$33.16 ৳4,070

154.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$33.85 ৳4,155

105.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$70.7 ৳8,678

499.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$41.90 ৳5,144

468.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$166 ৳20.4K

396.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$96.2 ৳11.8K

435.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$611 ৳75.1K

235.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$341 ৳41.8K

346.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Begamganj: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $70.7 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: $243 vs $107 – 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 159% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $494 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 127% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $329 in Begamganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Begamganj costs $329 versus $852 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.