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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 16.4% more expensive than Bender without rent, and 22.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 20.5% more expensive than Bender without rent, and 30.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$8.84 MDL 152
-77.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$17.62 MDL 304
5.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$5.75 MDL 99.2
30.09%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.08 MDL 18.59
85.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.99 MDL 17.02
-14.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.57 MDL 9.80
-38.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$0.97 MDL 16.65
127.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.01 MDL 34.73
87.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$0.98 MDL 16.85
75.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.47 MDL 8.19
246.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.44 MDL 24.92
-19.44%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.95 MDL 33.57
1.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$3.99 MDL 68.8
299.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.24 MDL 73.2
-25.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$5.23 MDL 90.2
108.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$0.70 MDL 12.08
278.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.74 MDL 30.03
-29.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.76 MDL 30.30
-3.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.62 MDL 27.87
-1.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$0.76 MDL 13.16
73.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$0.56 MDL 9.60
108.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$1.31 MDL 22.53
-48.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.74 MDL 12.73
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.89 MDL 49.89
56.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$2.63 MDL 45.29
625.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$0.71 MDL 12.24
149.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.56 MDL 26.92
103.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.36 MDL 6.27
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$4.17 MDL 71.9
353.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$1.09 MDL 18.80
24.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.25 MDL 4.27
440.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$1.19 MDL 20.57
574.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.42 MDL 24.51
-12.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$17.3K MDL 299.1K
22.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$18.3K MDL 314.8K
19.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$174 MDL 3,002
-59.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$7.70 MDL 133
82.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$8.33 MDL 144
109.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$23.40 MDL 404
79.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$2.39 MDL 41.14
148.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$388 MDL 6,700
-20.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$7,744 MDL 133.6K
91.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$11.73 MDL 202
374.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$26.27 MDL 453
1.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$112 MDL 1,931
-25.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$121 MDL 2,080
-41.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$219 MDL 3,772
95.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$93.5 MDL 1,612
153.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$315 MDL 5,428
154.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$224 MDL 3,859
125.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bender
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$329 MDL 5,671
98.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.24
-45.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Bender: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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