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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $206 in Beyla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $420 in Beyla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $634 in Beyla.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 320% more expensive than Beyla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Beyla 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$14.28 GNF 124.7K

-86.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$31.30 GNF 273.3K

-40.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.13 GNF 9,828

44.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.17 GNF 10.2K

64.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.18 GNF 19.1K

26.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.17 GNF 19.0K

-44.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.14 GNF 18.7K

-24.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.18 GNF 19.0K

-27.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.22 GNF 19.4K

-36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.24 GNF 19.6K

-47.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.02 GNF 8,897

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.02 GNF 8,939

-48.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$0.97 GNF 8,505

383.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.40 GNF 12.2K

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$2,033 GNF 17.7M

-69.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Beyla: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Beyla pays 229% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $31.00 in Beyla. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $94.0, with Beyla 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 Beyla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beyla wins on cost – living expenses run 320% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Beyla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Beyla earns 229% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $206 in Beyla – a 320% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 163% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Beyla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Beyla delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $206 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Beyla hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Beyla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Beyla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 320% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.