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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $378 in Biaora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $603 in Biaora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $828 in Biaora, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Biaora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Biaora are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Biaora 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.66 ₹256

-26.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.55 ₹1,114

58.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.39 ₹327

120.65%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.49 ₹143

35.57%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.49 ₹47.52

73.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.15 ₹14.63

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.72 ₹166

24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.22 ₹310

11.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.49 ₹47.35

236.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.43 ₹41.82

265.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.81 ₹77.8

46.91%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.00 ₹96.2

94.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$5.51 ₹531

193.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.72 ₹262

9.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.19 ₹115

127.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.36 ₹35.02

225.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.92 ₹88.3

83.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.24 ₹23.19

566.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.18 ₹17.35

666.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.22 ₹21.14

445.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.54 ₹52.0

24.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.24 ₹23.21

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.91 ₹184

142.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.46 ₹720

136.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.36 ₹131

36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.00 ₹386

-17.50%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.37 ₹421

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.30 ₹29.20

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$8.54 ₹823

126.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.22 ₹21.11

518.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.22 ₹21.09

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.47 ₹142

458.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.20 ₹115

1.67%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$11.6K ₹1.1M

83.37%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$16.5K ₹1.6M

36.23%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$32.84 ₹3,167

115.19%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.53 ₹341

297.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$7.08 ₹683

147.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$16.02 ₹1,545

163.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.01 ₹676

-1.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.47 ₹334

70.61%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$51.3 ₹4,951

500.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,586 ₹153.0K

837.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$20.86 ₹2,011

167.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$27.67 ₹2,668

-5.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$55.3 ₹5,332

50.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$36.09 ₹3,480

95.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$126 ₹12.1K

243.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$77.5 ₹7,475

208.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$276 ₹26.6K

197.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$184 ₹17.7K

178.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,050 ₹101.2K

82.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$510 ₹49.2K

187.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$156 ₹15.1K

271.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.21

-45.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Biaora: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Biaora. 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 271% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Biaora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $95.0 – making Biaora 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 Biaora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Biaora, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $566 in Biaora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Biaora, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.3 in Biaora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 155% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $378 in Biaora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Biaora costs $378 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Biaora. 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.