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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $999 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,440 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,880 in Bihac.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 13% less than in Bihac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bihac 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.88 BAM 11.57

-71.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.91 BAM 50.3

-37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.76 BAM 9.68

35.76%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.16 BAM 1.94

68.10%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.16 BAM 1.94

-26.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.86 BAM 1.44

-59.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.50 BAM 2.52

42.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.74 BAM 2.92

114.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.34 BAM 2.24

27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.11 BAM 1.87

46.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.38 BAM 4.01

-52.10%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.87 BAM 4.83

-32.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.16 BAM 17.06

59.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.32 BAM 12.30

-57.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.57 BAM 19.44

-5.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.74 BAM 2.92

58.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-24.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.90 BAM 3.20

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.07 BAM 3.48

-23.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.15 BAM 1.93

21.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 BAM 1.54

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.86 BAM 1.45

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.50 BAM 5.88

34.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.36 BAM 14.04

123.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.25 BAM 2.10

44.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.01 BAM 3.38

60.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.81 BAM 3.05

-50.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.05 BAM 58.9

-45.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.20 BAM 2.02

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.77 BAM 1.30

67.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.75 BAM 18.06

-27.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.49 BAM 2.51

-14.77%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$23.7K BAM 39.9K

-10.39%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

-15.24%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$210 BAM 352

-67.03%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$19.23 BAM 32.30

-26.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$21.97 BAM 36.92

-18.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.75 BAM 49.97

38.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.88 BAM 18.28

-36.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.55 BAM 9.32

6.67%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$150 BAM 251

100.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,937 BAM 4,935

409.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$29.33 BAM 49.28

86.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$17.54 BAM 29.46

52.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$98.5 BAM 166

-13.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$118 BAM 198

-40.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$222 BAM 372

93.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$206 BAM 347

15.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$308 BAM 518

159.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$280 BAM 471

84.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,492 BAM 2,507

32.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,326 BAM 2,228

11.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$806 BAM 1,354

-23.37%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bihac: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $222 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bihac pays 30% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $30.00 in Bihac. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 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 15% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $999 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bihac earns 30% less. 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $222 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 $19.00 versus $30.00 in Bihac. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $999 in Bihac – a 15% 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 15% less than in Bihac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.