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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $676 in Berrechid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,116 in Berrechid, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,556 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 36% lower, Berrechid 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.59 MAD 33.21

-45.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$13.12 MAD 121

43.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.24 MAD 67.0

9.39%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.66 MAD 15.37

15.06%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.49 MAD 4.52

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.33 MAD 3.05

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$4.17 MAD 38.54

-47.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$6.24 MAD 57.7

-39.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.84 MAD 7.75

95.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.55 MAD 5.05

194.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.77 MAD 16.35

-33.33%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.01 MAD 18.55

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.23 MAD 85.4

72.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.16 MAD 57.0

-51.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.91 MAD 101

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.46 MAD 13.50

78.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.29 MAD 11.94

-5.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.97 MAD 8.98

75.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.54 MAD 4.99

192.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.76 MAD 7.03

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.76 MAD 7.00

53.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.23 MAD 2.13

191.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.53 MAD 4.89

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.24 MAD 39.20

6.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.95 MAD 73.5

128.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.71 MAD 25.09

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.94 MAD 27.19

9.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.54 MAD 4.95

64.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$27.53 MAD 255

-29.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.89 MAD 8.23

51.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.52 MAD 4.86

159.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$3.81 MAD 35.23

116.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.45 MAD 13.40

-12.41%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$37.4K MAD 345.9K

-43.42%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$29.5K MAD 273.0K

-23.80%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$19.52 MAD 181

259.38%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$8.08 MAD 74.8

70.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$44.57 MAD 412

-60.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$18.96 MAD 175

119.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$32.31 MAD 299

-79.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.52 MAD 60.4

-11.35%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$112 MAD 1,034

173.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,995 MAD 18.5K

643.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$42.76 MAD 396

27.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$50.5 MAD 467

-48.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$109 MAD 1,006

-22.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$103 MAD 952

-32.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$137 MAD 1,272

208.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$122 MAD 1,130

94.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$354 MAD 3,273

133.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$275 MAD 2,540

87.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,586 MAD 14.7K

29.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$958 MAD 8,863

58.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$700 MAD 6,475

-9.25%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Berrechid: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $137 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 10% 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: $243 vs $188 – 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,015 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 $306 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 29% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $676 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.