Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,213 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,820 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,427 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 29% less than in Beliลกฤ‡e, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Beliลกฤ‡e 9% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 เธฟ63.5
$8.27 โ‚ฌ7.11
-76.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 เธฟ609
$40.47 โ‚ฌ34.81
-53.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 เธฟ255
$6.92 โ‚ฌ5.95
13.01%
Cappuccino
$1.95 เธฟ63.8
$2.14 โ‚ฌ1.84
-8.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 เธฟ27.77
$2.26 โ‚ฌ1.95
-62.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.58
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.79
-83.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 เธฟ69.6
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.02
-9.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 เธฟ122
$2.37 โ‚ฌ2.04
57.38%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 เธฟ56.0
$0.91 โ‚ฌ0.78
87.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
$0.66 โ‚ฌ0.57
146.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 เธฟ37.15
$2.82 โ‚ฌ2.43
-59.57%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ63.1
$3.14 โ‚ฌ2.70
-38.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 เธฟ530
$10.84 โ‚ฌ9.32
49.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 เธฟ102
$7.65 โ‚ฌ6.58
-59.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 เธฟ356
$11.29 โ‚ฌ9.71
-3.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 เธฟ90.0
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
133.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 เธฟ39.52
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.18
-11.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 เธฟ53.0
$1.60 โ‚ฌ1.38
1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.17
-36.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 เธฟ45.70
$0.91 โ‚ฌ0.78
53.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 เธฟ38.17
$1.22 โ‚ฌ1.05
-4.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 เธฟ21.60
$1.22 โ‚ฌ1.05
-45.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 เธฟ17.22
$0.95 โ‚ฌ0.82
-44.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 เธฟ153
$5.67 โ‚ฌ4.88
-17.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 เธฟ609
$7.77 โ‚ฌ6.69
140.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 เธฟ58.8
$1.19 โ‚ฌ1.02
51.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 เธฟ106
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.74
59.90%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ29.26
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.46
-46.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 เธฟ628
$42.34 โ‚ฌ36.42
-54.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 เธฟ45.91
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.28
-62.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 เธฟ42.12
$1.10 โ‚ฌ0.95
17.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 เธฟ256
$5.71 โ‚ฌ4.91
37.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 เธฟ41.58
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.42
-23.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K เธฟ694.9K
$32.6K โ‚ฌ28.0K
-34.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K เธฟ725.4K
$26.5K โ‚ฌ22.8K
-16.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 เธฟ2,256
$124 โ‚ฌ107
-44.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 เธฟ460
$18.07 โ‚ฌ15.54
-22.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ588
$26.21 โ‚ฌ22.55
-31.32%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 เธฟ1,341
$25.53 โ‚ฌ21.96
60.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 เธฟ227
$14.98 โ‚ฌ12.88
-53.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 เธฟ193
$5.26 โ‚ฌ4.53
12.55%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 เธฟ9,766
$345 โ‚ฌ297
-13.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K เธฟ488.3K
$2,799 โ‚ฌ2,407
434.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 เธฟ1,787
$123 โ‚ฌ106
-55.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 เธฟ874
$43.74 โ‚ฌ37.62
-38.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 เธฟ2,776
$46.48 โ‚ฌ39.98
82.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 เธฟ2,306
$57.4 โ‚ฌ49.33
23.10%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 เธฟ14.0K
$191 โ‚ฌ164
124.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,752
$464 โ‚ฌ399
-48.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 เธฟ26.2K
$347 โ‚ฌ298
131.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 เธฟ16.8K
$771 โ‚ฌ663
-33.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 เธฟ64.5K
$4,078 โ‚ฌ3,508
-51.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 เธฟ48.2K
$1,241 โ‚ฌ1,067
18.89%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 เธฟ20.2K
$1,884 โ‚ฌ1,621
-67.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.2
56.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Beliลกฤ‡e: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $191 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beliลกฤ‡e pays 205% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $40.00 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $224, with Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $1,213 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Beliลกฤ‡e earns 205% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $191 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $345 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Beliลกฤ‡e pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $800 go in Chiang Mai vs Beliลกฤ‡e?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chiang Mai or Beliลกฤ‡e safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Beliลกฤ‡e are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Mai or Beliลกฤ‡e?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 40% less than in Beliลกฤ‡e. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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