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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,151 in Berat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,712 in Berat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,272 in Berat, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Berat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Berat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Berat 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$11.73 ALL 953

-82.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$33.42 ALL 2,716

-44.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.36 ALL 680

-5.98%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.74 ALL 142

16.67%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.79 ALL 146

-55.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.98 ALL 79.7

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.54 ALL 206

-15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.56 ALL 290

3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.91 ALL 155

-9.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.13 ALL 92.1

38.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.21 ALL 179

-45.70%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.02 ALL 245

-34.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.66 ALL 866

52.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.96 ALL 646

-61.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$15.57 ALL 1,265

-30.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.72 ALL 140

61.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.29 ALL 186

-48.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.55 ALL 126

10.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.40 ALL 114

13.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.96 ALL 78.2

44.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.15 ALL 93.8

0.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.85 ALL 69.1

-22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.74 ALL 60.4

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.17 ALL 339

11.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$11.11 ALL 903

60.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.21 ALL 98.2

47.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.43 ALL 116

133.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.36 ALL 29.51

152.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$18.52 ALL 1,505

0.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.56 ALL 289

-60.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.23 ALL 262

-58.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$17.72 ALL 1,440

-54.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.04 ALL 166

-39.71%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$40.8K ALL 3.3M

-47.48%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$35.5K ALL 2.9M

-38.54%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$82.8 ALL 6,725

-13.82%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.95 ALL 1,459

-21.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$18.76 ALL 1,524

-4.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$55.4 ALL 4,504

-26.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.37 ALL 2,061

-72.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.30 ALL 756

-38.49%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$159 ALL 12.9K

94.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,737 ALL 141.2K

744.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$67.1 ALL 5,453

-16.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$49.96 ALL 4,060

-47.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$108 ALL 8,734

-21.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$131 ALL 10.7K

-45.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$449 ALL 36.5K

-5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$338 ALL 27.4K

-28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$623 ALL 50.6K

27.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$431 ALL 35.0K

17.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,838 ALL 149.3K

4.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,222 ALL 99.3K

19.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$492 ALL 40.0K

20.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-9.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Berat: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $449 in Berat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Berat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $254 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Berat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Berat is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,727 in Berat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Berat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $33.00 in Berat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Berat at $1,151. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Berat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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