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 $677 in Berrechid, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,111 in Berrechid, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,545 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$3.63 MAD 33.85

-43.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$13.30 MAD 124

40.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.07 MAD 65.9

11.17%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.68 MAD 15.64

20.83%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.46 MAD 4.28

73.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.35 MAD 3.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$4.04 MAD 37.71

-47.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$6.32 MAD 58.9

-41.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.80 MAD 7.48

116.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.57 MAD 5.32

175.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.82 MAD 16.96

-34.07%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.03 MAD 18.96

-2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.24 MAD 86.2

75.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.04 MAD 56.3

-49.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$11.12 MAD 104

-2.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.46 MAD 13.65

89.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.36 MAD 12.64

-13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.92 MAD 8.55

85.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.57 MAD 5.32

178.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.73 MAD 6.84

90.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.75 MAD 6.95

54.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.21 MAD 1.95

214.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.54 MAD 4.99

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.05 MAD 37.80

14.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$7.80 MAD 72.7

127.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.70 MAD 25.21

-33.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.96 MAD 27.63

12.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.57 MAD 5.31

59.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$27.83 MAD 259

-33.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.95 MAD 8.85

48.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.52 MAD 4.83

157.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$3.80 MAD 35.45

113.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.44 MAD 13.47

-14.58%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$36.9K MAD 344.0K

-41.90%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$29.5K MAD 274.7K

-25.92%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$20.09 MAD 187

255.05%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$8.23 MAD 76.8

70.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$43.98 MAD 410

-59.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$18.94 MAD 177

115.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$33.49 MAD 312

-79.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.40 MAD 59.6

-10.63%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$115 MAD 1,070

168.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,971 MAD 18.4K

644.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$43.14 MAD 402

29.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$51.0 MAD 476

-48.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$108 MAD 1,008

-21.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$105 MAD 974

-32.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$136 MAD 1,272

210.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$122 MAD 1,141

98.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$358 MAD 3,342

122.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$283 MAD 2,637

79.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$697 MAD 6,498

175.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$840 MAD 7,837

74.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$680 MAD 6,341

-12.50%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Berrechid: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 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 14% 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: $244 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,016 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Berrechid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $677 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.