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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $983 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,455 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,927 in Bihac.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 12% less than in Bihac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bihac 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.26 BAM 12.43

-73.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$29.94 BAM 51.3

-38.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.57 BAM 9.53

34.29%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.20 BAM 2.06

68.33%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.15 BAM 1.96

-26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.89 BAM 1.52

-59.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.50 BAM 2.56

42.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.81 BAM 3.10

98.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.38 BAM 2.37

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.05 BAM 1.80

49.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.30 BAM 3.95

-48.26%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.80 BAM 4.80

-30.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.08 BAM 17.27

60.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.41 BAM 12.69

-59.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.20 BAM 19.18

-2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.82 BAM 3.11

48.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.69 BAM 2.89

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.91 BAM 3.28

-11.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.03 BAM 3.48

-21.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.19 BAM 2.05

15.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.45 BAM 2.48

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.96 BAM 1.65

-30.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.91 BAM 1.56

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.60 BAM 6.16

28.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.15 BAM 13.96

116.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.25 BAM 2.13

48.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.08 BAM 3.56

58.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.76 BAM 3.02

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$35.05 BAM 60.0

-44.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.21 BAM 2.07

12.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.82 BAM 1.41

63.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$10.75 BAM 18.42

-23.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-17.57%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.6K BAM 40.4K

-9.56%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.9K BAM 44.3K

-12.98%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$205 BAM 350

-65.44%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$18.94 BAM 32.44

-25.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$21.90 BAM 37.51

-20.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$29.93 BAM 51.3

40.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$10.82 BAM 18.53

-36.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.71 BAM 9.77

3.68%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$146 BAM 250

111.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,926 BAM 5,012

408.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$29.42 BAM 50.4

89.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$17.60 BAM 30.15

48.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$99.6 BAM 171

-16.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$118 BAM 202

-40.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$223 BAM 382

93.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$210 BAM 359

13.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$308 BAM 528

166.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$284 BAM 487

80.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,486 BAM 2,545

28.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,316 BAM 2,253

11.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$773 BAM 1,324

-25.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

20.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bihac: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $223 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bihac pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $30.00 in Bihac. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $231, with Bihac 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 Bihac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bihac differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $983 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Bihac. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $223 in Bihac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $30.00 in Bihac. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $983 in Bihac – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bihac 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Bihac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.