ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,073 in Beringen, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,062 in Beringen, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,051 in Beringen, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Beringen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðChiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Beringen is 55% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$22.96âŽ19.66
-91.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$92.6âŽ79.2
-79.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$12.75âŽ10.92
-37.88%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$4.09âŽ3.50
-53.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$3.29âŽ2.82
-74.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$3.02âŽ2.58
-88.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$5.54âŽ4.74
-60.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$6.54âŽ5.60
-41.90%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.32âŽ1.13
24.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$2.85âŽ2.44
-43.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$2.62âŽ2.24
-54.96%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$3.71âŽ3.17
-45.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$17.69âŽ15.14
-10.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$9.72âŽ8.32
-69.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$22.11âŽ18.93
-51.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$2.33âŽ2.00
12.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$2.34âŽ2.00
-47.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$2.33âŽ1.99
-27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$2.38âŽ2.04
-33.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$2.24âŽ1.92
-41.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$1.64âŽ1.41
-28.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.88âŽ0.76
-23.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.87âŽ0.75
-35.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$12.98âŽ11.11
-65.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$9.25âŽ7.92
96.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.75âŽ1.49
4.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$1.99âŽ1.70
62.31%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$2.91âŽ2.49
-69.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$57.1âŽ48.86
-66.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$5.93âŽ5.08
-77.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$2.45âŽ2.09
-44.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$36.97âŽ31.65
-77.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.91âŽ1.64
-33.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$35.9KâŽ30.8K
-41.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$32.6KâŽ27.9K
-31.06%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$207âŽ177
-66.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$21.52âŽ18.42
-36.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$52.0âŽ44.47
-66.12%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$38.47âŽ32.93
8.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$17.29âŽ14.80
-61.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$15.31âŽ13.10
-62.25%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$642âŽ549
-52.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$13.7KâŽ11.7K
8.36%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$113âŽ96.4
-51.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$49.34âŽ42.23
-47.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$115âŽ98.5
-26.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$137âŽ117
-49.20%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$888âŽ760
-52.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$765âŽ655
-68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$1,372âŽ1,174
-39.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$1,088âŽ931
-52.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$3,626âŽ3,104
-43.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$2,515âŽ2,153
-39.45%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Beringen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.27
52.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Beringen: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $888 in Beringen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $93.0 in Beringen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $337 â 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 Beringen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beringen cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes â Beringen is pricier by about 143%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,110 in Beringen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Beringen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $93.0 in Beringen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai vs Beringen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $2,073 in Beringen. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Beringen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Beringen at $2,073. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beringen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Beringen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Beringen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beringen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared