Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bella Vista

For one person, living is cheaper in Bella Vista: $188 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Bella Vista

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$188

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bella Vista

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bella Vista actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $188 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Bella Vista $188

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $306 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Bella Vista $306

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $425 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Bella Vista $425

Chiang Mai costs about 391% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bella Vista are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$1.96 ₲11.1K

16.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$13.38 ₲76.1K

46.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.02 ₲11.5K

-17.82%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$1.02 ₲5,812

-31.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.48 ₲8,406

150.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.81 ₲4,609

140.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.48 ₲2,725

193.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.02 ₲5,783

28.43%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$2.12 ₲12.0K

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$6.02 ₲34.3K

176.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$2.94 ₲16.7K

-6.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$0.68 ₲3,850

51.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.98 ₲5,572

-45.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$0.97 ₲5,517

344.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$4.92 ₲28.0K

264.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$0.84 ₲4,774

88.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.78 ₲10.1K

59.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$17.77 ₲101.1K

250.76%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$12.05 ₲68.5K

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$19.95 ₲113.5K

-0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

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

$793 ฿26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$374 ₲2.1M

57.88%

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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Bella Vista

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Bella Vista

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Bella Vista

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Bella Vista

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Bella Vista

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Bella Vista

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Bella Vista

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 58% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $92.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇵🇾 Bella Vista

🕒 Local time

18:40 6:40 PM

08:40 8:40 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

5,653

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Bella Vista 17,440 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bella Vista

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 391% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $283 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $925 in Chiang Mai and $188 in Bella Vista. That's a gap of about 391%.

Groceries cost about 157% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $188, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $188 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.