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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $273 in Beira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $533 in Beira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $792 in Beira.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 212% more expensive than in Beira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.71 MZN 487

-73.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$35.54 MZN 2,248

-47.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.06 MZN 193

-33.66%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.20 MZN 75.7

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.81 MZN 51.3

-56.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.26 MZN 79.8

69.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.00 MZN 126

83.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.70 MZN 108

1.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.92 MZN 57.9

70.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.52 MZN 96.1

-21.05%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.71 MZN 108

15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.14 MZN 199

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.74 MZN 300

127.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.70 MZN 171

2.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.94 MZN 122

-39.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.01 MZN 127

-14.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.13 MZN 135

-25.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.96 MZN 60.6

44.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.82 MZN 51.8

41.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.35 MZN 85.4

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.70 MZN 44.32

-25.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$0.92 MZN 57.9

405.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$8.21 MZN 519

116.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.94 MZN 59.7

90.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.80 MZN 177

19.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Beira: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $36.00 in Beira. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $158, 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 212% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $273 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $410 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Beira – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 $273 in Beira – a 212% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Beira gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 212% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.