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 $286 in Begusarai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $510 in Begusarai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $735 in Begusarai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 198% more expensive than Begusarai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Begusarai 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.39 ₹227

-17.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$8.03 ₹763

134.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.42 ₹325

131.58%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.40 ₹133

36.43%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.34 ₹31.84

147.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.09 ₹8.62

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.29 ₹218

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.98 ₹283

27.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.58 ₹55.5

182.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.46 ₹43.60

252.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.52 ₹49.35

126.92%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.89 ₹84.9

125.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.22 ₹401

276.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.66 ₹252

13.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.33 ₹126

96.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.64 ₹61.1

90.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.02 ₹97.2

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.45 ₹42.71

251.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.22 ₹20.83

500.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.37 ₹35.25

216.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.24 ₹22.86

179.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.27 ₹25.82

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.49 ₹236

81.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.35 ₹603

186.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.06 ₹196

-11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.31 ₹220

39.83%

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

$6.52 ₹619

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.62

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.48 ₹805

128.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.24 ₹22.83

462.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.18 ₹16.79

650.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.73 ₹164

376.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.17 ₹112

8.55%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

88.21%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$17.6K ₹1.7M

27.60%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$12.96 ₹1,230

441.28%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.63 ₹250

423.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.50 ₹712

134.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$5.11 ₹485

713.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$10.05 ₹955

-34.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$1.19 ₹113

385.71%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$50.2 ₹4,769

509.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$700 ₹66.4K

2018.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$26.09 ₹2,477

108.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.66 ₹2,626

-5.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$23.14 ₹2,197

265.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$31.15 ₹2,957

122.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$57.6 ₹5,470

635.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$40.11 ₹3,808

493.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$270 ₹25.7K

205.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$182 ₹17.2K

183.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$953 ₹90.5K

115.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$461 ₹43.8K

230.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$663 ₹62.9K

-4.16%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Begusarai: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $57.6 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Begusarai pays 4% 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 $243 vs $92.0 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 198% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Begusarai earns 4% less. 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: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $57.6 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 $286 in Begusarai – a 198% 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 198% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.