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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $380 in Beira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $722 in Beira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,064 in Beira.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 146% more expensive than in Beira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Beira 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$12.41 MZN 785

-83.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$46.82 MZN 2,961

-58.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.21 MZN 203

-43.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.18 MZN 74.9

-34.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.15 MZN 72.6

-69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.35 MZN 85.7

63.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.91 MZN 121

98.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.68 MZN 107

22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.30 MZN 18.67

403.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.52 MZN 96.4

-7.89%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.91 MZN 121

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.02 MZN 254

-27.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.64 MZN 294

103.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.30 MZN 145

16.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.39 MZN 151

-54.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.34 MZN 148

-30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.26 MZN 80.0

15.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.28 MZN 81.1

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.91 MZN 57.7

16.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.33 MZN 147

-69.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.67 MZN 42.22

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$0.95 MZN 60.3

345.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$8.00 MZN 506

128.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.00 MZN 63.3

63.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.96 MZN 250

-26.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.80 MZN 50.7

46.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.32 MZN 83.7

9.85%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

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

$12.89 ฿430

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$90.3 MZN 5,714

767.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$19.02 MZN 1,203

189.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$38.34 MZN 2,425

-35.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$38.95 MZN 2,464

141.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$47.12 MZN 2,980

56.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Beira: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $47.00 in Beira. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $161, with Beira cheaper for home cooking.

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 Beira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Beira differ by about 146% in total monthly costs ($932 vs $380 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $569 in Beira to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $380 in Beira – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $380 in Beira versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beira but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Beira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Beira 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 Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.