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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,143 in Berat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,709 in Berat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,275 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

$1.96 ฿64.1

$11.86 ALL 973

-83.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$33.08 ALL 2,714

-44.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$8.16 ALL 669

-3.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.75 ALL 143

11.43%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.72 ALL 141

-50.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.90 ALL 74.0

-64.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.58 ALL 211

-17.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$3.60 ALL 296

2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.90 ALL 156

-12.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$1.13 ALL 92.9

38.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$2.24 ALL 184

-46.88%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$2.87 ALL 235

-30.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$10.74 ALL 881

51.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$7.80 ALL 640

-59.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$15.68 ALL 1,287

-30.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$1.70 ALL 139

55.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$2.43 ALL 199

-49.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$1.49 ALL 122

10.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$1.43 ALL 118

8.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.98 ALL 80.7

35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$1.15 ALL 94.3

5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.85 ALL 69.8

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.74 ALL 60.5

-22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$4.27 ALL 350

9.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$10.90 ALL 894

55.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.16 ALL 95.0

56.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$1.38 ALL 113

130.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.34 ALL 27.79

167.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$18.62 ALL 1,528

0.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$3.62 ALL 297

-61.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$3.16 ALL 260

-57.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$17.31 ALL 1,420

-52.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$2.04 ALL 168

-37.25%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$40.2K ALL 3.3M

-45.77%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$35.4K ALL 2.9M

-36.73%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$83.4 ALL 6,844

-15.50%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$17.81 ALL 1,462

-21.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$18.50 ALL 1,518

-4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$56.0 ALL 4,592

-26.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$25.65 ALL 2,105

-73.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$9.59 ALL 787

-37.85%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$157 ALL 12.9K

92.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$1,769 ALL 145.2K

745.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$68.0 ALL 5,578

-19.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$50.0 ALL 4,105

-47.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$107 ALL 8,799

-20.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$128 ALL 10.5K

-45.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$452 ALL 37.1K

-5.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$344 ALL 28.2K

-30.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$622 ALL 51.0K

30.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$428 ALL 35.1K

19.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

$1,992 ALL 163.5K

1.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$1,314 ALL 107.8K

14.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$497 ALL 40.8K

25.30%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Berat: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $452 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 25% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Berat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $253 – 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,715 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 $18.00 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 $848, than in Berat at $1,143. 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.