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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $379 in Biaora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $604 in Biaora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $830 in Biaora, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 129% more than Biaora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Biaora are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Biaora 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.59 ₹248

-25.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.60 ₹1,110

60.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.51 ₹336

122.79%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.47 ₹141

32.65%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.45 ₹42.78

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.16 ₹15.02

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.77 ₹170

20.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.21 ₹307

16.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.45 ₹43.50

280.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.43 ₹41.17

279.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.76 ₹73.0

50.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.01 ₹96.4

91.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.49 ₹526

195.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.71 ₹259

15.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.19 ₹114

131.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.33 ₹31.94

266.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.91 ₹87.2

78.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.24 ₹23.07

562.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.19 ₹17.78

636.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.22 ₹21.00

431.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.54 ₹51.7

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.22 ₹21.01

140.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.81 ₹173

159.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.67 ₹734

143.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.37 ₹131

31.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.03 ₹386

-19.85%

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

$4.32 ₹413

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.30 ₹28.78

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.82 ₹844

117.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.22 ₹20.93

540.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.22 ₹21.00

486.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.42 ₹136

452.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.21 ₹115

4.96%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$11.8K ₹1.1M

79.81%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$16.8K ₹1.6M

31.88%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$32.10 ₹3,072

115.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.69 ₹353

281.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$6.88 ₹659

161.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$16.08 ₹1,539

155.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.17 ₹686

-2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.46 ₹331

71.10%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$51.5 ₹4,933

480.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,573 ₹150.5K

850.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$21.23 ₹2,032

157.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$27.51 ₹2,632

-2.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$56.0 ₹5,357

51.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$35.14 ₹3,362

100.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$125 ₹12.0K

241.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$76.4 ₹7,312

210.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$269 ₹25.8K

197.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$180 ₹17.3K

185.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$993 ₹95.1K

98.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$591 ₹56.6K

149.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$156 ₹14.9K

295.85%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Biaora: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 296% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Biaora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 129% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $568 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.5 in Biaora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 160% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $379 in Biaora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Biaora costs $379 versus $866 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.