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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $759 in Bertioga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,233 in Bertioga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,708 in Bertioga.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 15% more expensive than Bertioga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bertioga 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$7.40 R$37.47
-73.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$32.99 R$167
-43.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$6.66 R$33.71
16.37%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$1.74 R$8.82
10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$1.24 R$6.26
-36.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$0.84 R$4.25
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.83 R$9.28
20.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.74 R$13.87
33.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$0.79 R$4.00
108.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.19 R$6.02
36.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.19 R$6.05
-
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$1.18 R$5.97
69.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$9.05 R$45.84
76.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$3.16 R$16.01
-4.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$7.30 R$36.96
48.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$2.17 R$10.99
27.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$0.84 R$4.23
40.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$0.93 R$4.70
76.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$0.92 R$4.67
65.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.89 R$4.50
55.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$0.74 R$3.72
60.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.52 R$2.65
34.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.51 R$2.60
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$1.84 R$9.33
148.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$4.84 R$24.49
242.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.36 R$6.90
34.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$2.06 R$10.41
55.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.92 R$4.66
-4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$38.37 R$194
-51.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$1.11 R$5.63
22.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.58 R$2.93
131.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$7.82 R$39.59
0.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.06 R$5.39
16.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$22.9K R$115.7K
-5.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$28.8K R$145.7K
-21.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$52.2 R$264
35.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$8.93 R$45.19
53.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$15.90 R$80.5
9.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$22.79 R$115
81.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$21.19 R$107
-67.15%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$7.26 R$36.75
-20.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$72.8 R$368
322.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$8,778 R$44.4K
66.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$53.9 R$273
3.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$45.91 R$232
-42.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$53.3 R$270
60.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$77.5 R$392
-6.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$318 R$1,612
34.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$219 R$1,107
9.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$586 R$2,965
39.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$427 R$2,162
19.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$1,430 R$7,241
38.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$1,106 R$5,599
34.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.17
-55.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bertioga: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $318 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $33.00 in Bertioga. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $151, with Bertioga cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bertioga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bertioga cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Bertioga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $1,138 in Bertioga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Bertioga?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $318 in Bertioga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and Bertioga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Bertioga?
Dining out is cheaper in Bertioga – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Bertioga?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bertioga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Chiang Mai or Bertioga more family-friendly?
For families, Bertioga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Bertioga?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bertioga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bertioga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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