😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $656 in Berrechid, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,018 in Berrechid, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,380 in Berrechid, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Berrechid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Berrechid are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Berrechid52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.2
$3.76MAD 35.71
-44.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿652
$15.99MAD 152
22.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$6.27MAD 59.6
-9.57%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.0
$1.55MAD 14.74
16.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.55
$0.48MAD 4.61
60.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.48
$0.31MAD 2.94
12.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.6
$4.08MAD 38.77
-45.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$3.59MAD 34.14
5.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.1
$0.79MAD 7.47
159.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.4
$0.33MAD 3.15
357.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.51
$1.36MAD 12.89
2.94%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.1
$1.96MAD 18.68
15.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿538
$7.93MAD 75.4
104.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.3
$5.50MAD 52.3
-47.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿313
$11.85MAD 113
-20.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.1
$1.36MAD 12.91
97.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.23
$1.29MAD 12.31
-15.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
$0.85MAD 8.11
90.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.55
$0.60MAD 5.71
143.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.48
$0.64MAD 6.10
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.17
$0.61MAD 5.77
73.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.85
$0.23MAD 2.17
213.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.49
$0.56MAD 5.36
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$4.29MAD 40.77
-1.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿608
$7.78MAD 73.9
135.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.2
$2.31MAD 21.96
-29.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.5
$2.09MAD 19.87
38.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.20
$0.68MAD 6.46
29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,788
$26.04MAD 248
106.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿38.99
$0.87MAD 8.23
34.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.22
$0.62MAD 5.87
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.3
$6.57MAD 62.5
-63.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.22
$1.43MAD 13.56
1.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿698.6K
$34.6KMAD 328.6K
-39.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿878.6K
$28.9KMAD 274.5K
-8.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,116
$27.94MAD 266
127.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿429
$9.40MAD 89.4
37.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿682
$37.08MAD 353
-44.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,297
$24.02MAD 228
62.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
$21.04MAD 200
-81.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$6.77MAD 64.3
-2.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$103MAD 981
659.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿487.9K
$2,557MAD 24.3K
473.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,833
$29.02MAD 276
89.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿823
$46.21MAD 439
-46.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,130
$57.8MAD 549
62.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,459
$74.5MAD 708
-0.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
$151MAD 1,438
224.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,582
$137MAD 1,301
110.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.6K
$315MAD 2,994
183.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.3K
$247MAD 2,349
110.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.6K
$686MAD 6,523
187.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.0K
$829MAD 7,882
74.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Berrechid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
$656MAD 6,241
-8.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.5
23.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Berrechid: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $151 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 9% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Berrechid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $174 – 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
Is Berrechid cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $984 in Berrechid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $103 in Berrechid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Berrechid?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Berrechid?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berrechid, where all-in costs run around $656, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Berrechid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Berrechid more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Berrechid?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared