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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Berrechid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,107 in Berrechid, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,527 in Berrechid, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Berrechid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Berrechid are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Berrechid 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.51 MAD 32.50

-43.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$13.36 MAD 124

40.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.02 MAD 64.9

10.40%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.66 MAD 15.37

15.66%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.49 MAD 4.52

61.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.36 MAD 3.30

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.99 MAD 36.93

-44.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.18 MAD 57.2

-40.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.80 MAD 7.44

106.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.58 MAD 5.32

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.82 MAD 16.81

-34.62%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.10 MAD 19.44

-4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.14 MAD 84.6

74.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.08 MAD 56.3

-50.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.05 MAD 102

-1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.46 MAD 13.47

89.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.29 MAD 11.90

-8.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.92 MAD 8.51

78.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.56 MAD 5.20

171.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.80 MAD 7.44

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.73 MAD 6.78

63.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.23 MAD 2.13

204.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.53 MAD 4.94

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.10 MAD 37.89

11.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.34 MAD 77.2

98.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.72 MAD 25.14

-32.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.05 MAD 28.18

4.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.53 MAD 4.89

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$27.15 MAD 251

-31.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.92 MAD 8.49

47.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.48 MAD 4.41

179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.79 MAD 35.06

106.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.46 MAD 13.47

-15.75%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$37.6K MAD 347.4K

-42.43%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$29.3K MAD 270.6K

-22.93%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$19.57 MAD 181

260.45%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$8.27 MAD 76.5

65.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$43.58 MAD 403

-59.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$19.24 MAD 178

114.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$32.57 MAD 301

-78.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.69 MAD 61.9

-13.75%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$112 MAD 1,032

175.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,958 MAD 18.1K

646.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$42.77 MAD 396

30.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$51.1 MAD 473

-48.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$109 MAD 1,011

-21.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$105 MAD 974

-31.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$136 MAD 1,255

216.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$122 MAD 1,124

96.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$355 MAD 3,280

130.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$274 MAD 2,539

86.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,563 MAD 14.5K

26.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$941 MAD 8,702

57.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$695 MAD 6,428

-10.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

5.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Berrechid: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $136 in Berrechid. 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 12% higher in Berrechid, 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 $13.00 in Berrechid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $190 – making Berrechid 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 Berrechid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,031 in Berrechid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $112 in Berrechid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $687 in Berrechid, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Berrechid – 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 Berrechid. 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.