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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $723 in Berkane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Berkane, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,524 in Berkane, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Berkane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Berkane are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Berkane 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$6.41 MAD 60.8

-67.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$17.33 MAD 164

13.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.09 MAD 57.7

-6.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.90 MAD 18.02

-4.74%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.57 MAD 5.45

35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.34 MAD 3.27

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.15 MAD 39.37

-46.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.40 MAD 32.20

11.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.86 MAD 8.16

138.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.54 MAD 5.07

179.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.68 MAD 15.97

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.93 MAD 18.30

17.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$7.12 MAD 67.5

127.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.27 MAD 59.5

-53.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.50 MAD 99.6

-10.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.54 MAD 14.56

74.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.37 MAD 12.95

-20.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.85 MAD 8.03

90.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.80 MAD 7.56

82.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.74 MAD 7.05

72.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.80 MAD 7.55

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.41 MAD 3.89

75.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 MAD 5.52

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.08 MAD 38.66

3.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.98 MAD 75.7

129.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.55 MAD 24.15

-36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.65 MAD 25.16

9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.49 MAD 4.60

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$18.86 MAD 179

185.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.70 MAD 6.67

67.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.70 MAD 6.61

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.87 MAD 46.20

-50.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.62 MAD 15.38

-10.49%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.8K MAD 330.2K

-39.65%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.8K MAD 302.0K

-17.03%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$40.11 MAD 380

58.69%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.37 MAD 98.4

24.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$36.56 MAD 347

-43.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$26.22 MAD 249

48.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$21.42 MAD 203

-81.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.97 MAD 56.6

10.22%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$88.5 MAD 839

785.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,945 MAD 56.4K

146.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$32.84 MAD 311

67.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$49.53 MAD 470

-50.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$80.1 MAD 760

17.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$66.2 MAD 627

11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$274 MAD 2,598

79.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$169 MAD 1,607

70.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$480 MAD 4,552

85.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$272 MAD 2,583

91.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,036 MAD 9,827

90.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$721 MAD 6,833

100.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$278 MAD 2,632

116.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.52

23.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Berkane: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $274 in Berkane. 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 117% 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 $17.00 in Berkane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $182 – making Berkane 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 Berkane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,085 in Berkane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $17.00 in Berkane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $723 in Berkane. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Berkane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Berkane – 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 Berkane. 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.