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 $327 in Begamganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $526 in Begamganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Begamganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 161% 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

$2.04 ฿68.4

$1.67 ৳206

22.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$10.01 ৳1,236

86.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$5.04 ৳622

55.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ৳503

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ৳570

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.42 ৳175

42.96%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.34 ৳42.33

135.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.14 ৳17.46

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.65 ৳80.0

166.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.61 ৳74.9

157.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.62 ৳76.2

93.55%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.17 ৳144

68.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$6.64 ৳819

144.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.46 ৳304

24.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$6.16 ৳761

75.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.24 ৳277

23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.93 ৳115

25.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$2.06 ৳254

-16.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.65 ৳80.4

144.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.43 ৳53.3

223.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.56 ৳68.8

107.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.35 ৳43.68

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.26 ৳31.88

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$9.77 ৳1,206

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 ৳287

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 ৳593

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.94 ৳363

58.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.20 ৳24.68

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$10.46 ৳1,292

78.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.78 ৳96.9

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.39 ৳48.76

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$1.99 ৳246

307.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.05 ৳130

17.14%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$29.2K ৳3.6M

-26.56%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$28.3K ৳3.5M

-22.82%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$30.03 ৳3,708

137.53%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$4.85 ৳599

188.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$13.29 ৳1,641

34.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$13.63 ৳1,683

199.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$12.00 ৳1,482

-42.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.21 ৳520

35.87%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$27.72 ৳3,422

1012.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$942 ৳116.3K

1457.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$16.08 ৳1,986

246.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$17.86 ৳2,205

45.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$32.79 ৳4,049

158.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$34.06 ৳4,206

108.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$70.5 ৳8,705

500.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$42.18 ৳5,208

474.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$164 ৳20.2K

386.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$97.5 ৳12.0K

419.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$775 ৳95.7K

147.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Begamganj: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $70.5 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: $244 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 161% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $490 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 131% 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 $327 in Begamganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Begamganj costs $327 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.