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: $845 in Chiang Mai versus $760 in Bertioga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Chiang Mai versus $1,210 in Bertioga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $1,659 in Bertioga.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 11% more expensive than Bertioga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 37% lower, Bertioga 43% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 āļŋ63.2
$7.09 R$35.17
-72.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 āļŋ597
$31.84 R$158
-42.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 āļŋ243
$6.94 R$34.42
8.07%
Cappuccino
$1.93 āļŋ62.6
$1.74 R$8.65
10.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 āļŋ25.22
$1.23 R$6.10
-36.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 āļŋ10.48
$0.76 R$3.77
-57.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 āļŋ69.6
$1.75 R$8.69
22.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 āļŋ120
$2.81 R$13.92
32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 āļŋ55.5
$0.78 R$3.88
119.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 āļŋ50.6
$1.24 R$6.14
25.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 āļŋ38.27
$1.13 R$5.59
4.42%
Eggs
$1.98 āļŋ64.2
$1.18 R$5.85
67.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 āļŋ520
$8.83 R$43.78
81.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 āļŋ103
$3.27 R$16.23
-3.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 āļŋ355
$7.25 R$35.95
50.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 āļŋ85.1
$2.16 R$10.69
21.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.82
$0.83 R$4.11
40.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 āļŋ53.3
$0.93 R$4.63
77.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 āļŋ49.78
$0.94 R$4.66
63.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 āļŋ44.59
$0.92 R$4.54
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 āļŋ37.75
$0.69 R$3.41
69.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 āļŋ21.37
$0.56 R$2.76
17.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 āļŋ16.64
$0.55 R$2.73
-7.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 āļŋ146
$1.83 R$9.06
146.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 āļŋ594
$5.07 R$25.15
261.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 āļŋ58.2
$1.30 R$6.45
38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 āļŋ103
$2.01 R$9.98
58.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 āļŋ29.13
$0.86 R$4.25
4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 āļŋ616
$38.40 R$190
-50.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 āļŋ45.76
$1.11 R$5.50
27.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 āļŋ42.39
$0.61 R$3.04
114.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 āļŋ262
$7.85 R$38.94
3.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 āļŋ41.31
$1.08 R$5.35
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K āļŋ689.9K
$22.9K R$113.6K
-6.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K āļŋ703.2K
$28.9K R$143.3K
-24.90%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 āļŋ2,242
$50.9 R$252
35.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 āļŋ453
$8.83 R$43.82
58.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 āļŋ582
$15.97 R$79.2
12.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 āļŋ1,371
$22.93 R$114
84.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 āļŋ216
$21.25 R$105
-68.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 āļŋ192
$7.35 R$36.47
-19.46%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 āļŋ9,694
$72.3 R$359
313.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K āļŋ481.1K
$8,876 R$44.0K
67.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 āļŋ1,820
$53.0 R$263
5.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 āļŋ873
$44.68 R$222
-39.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 āļŋ2,750
$54.9 R$272
54.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 āļŋ2,327
$76.4 R$379
-5.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 āļŋ14.1K
$309 R$1,534
40.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 āļŋ7,771
$214 R$1,062
12.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 āļŋ25.8K
$593 R$2,939
34.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 āļŋ16.1K
$437 R$2,169
13.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 āļŋ64.6K
$1,447 R$7,176
37.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 āļŋ49.6K
$1,265 R$6,275
21.06%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 āļŋ20.4K
-
-
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Bertioga: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Chiang Mai and $309 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $32 in Bertioga. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $152, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,267 in Chiang Mai and $1,141 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: $435 in Chiang Mai versus $309 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 61% 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 $32.00 versus $18.00 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 11% 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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