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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $289 in Begusarai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $514 in Begusarai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $738 in Begusarai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 195% more expensive than in Begusarai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Begusarai 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.30 ₹219

-11.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$8.15 ₹777

129.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.51 ₹335

123.93%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.47 ₹140

38.10%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.30 ₹29.07

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.09 ₹8.64

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.21 ₹211

-3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.10 ₹296

18.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.60 ₹57.0

188.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.42 ₹39.99

273.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.56 ₹53.2

114.29%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.89 ₹85.2

121.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.17 ₹398

289.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.60 ₹248

17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.34 ₹128

106.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.69 ₹65.8

69.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.96 ₹91.3

78.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.45 ₹42.94

253.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.22 ₹20.85

531.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.35 ₹32.97

231.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.22 ₹20.86

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.25 ₹23.84

108.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.63 ₹251

76.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.20 ₹591

186.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.02 ₹193

-11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.30 ₹219

45.22%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.55 ₹625

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.28 ₹26.60

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.62 ₹822

116.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.22 ₹20.96

540.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.15 ₹14.03

793.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.71 ₹163

374.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.22 ₹116

0.82%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$11.5K ₹1.1M

86.85%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$17.7K ₹1.7M

23.23%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$12.65 ₹1,206

463.87%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$2.51 ₹240

458.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$7.22 ₹688

148.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$5.00 ₹477

716.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$10.17 ₹970

-32.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$1.17 ₹112

388.89%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$49.25 ₹4,697

525.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$699 ₹66.6K

2001.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$26.64 ₹2,541

109.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$26.79 ₹2,555

-2.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$23.69 ₹2,260

258.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$31.61 ₹3,014

124.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$58.2 ₹5,551

627.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$40.51 ₹3,864

498.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$277 ₹26.4K

187.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$179 ₹17.1K

182.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$999 ₹95.3K

92.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$512 ₹48.8K

185.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$1,032 ₹98.4K

-42.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.05

-44.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Begusarai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $58.2 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Begusarai pays 73% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $8.00 in Begusarai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $91.0 per month, with Begusarai cheaper across the board.

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 Begusarai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Begusarai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 195% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Begusarai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $58.2 in Begusarai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Begusarai – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $289 in Begusarai – a 195% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Begusarai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Begusarai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Begusarai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Begusarai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.