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: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $995 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $1,467 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,939 in Bihac.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 6% less than in Bihac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bihac 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$6.95 BAM 11.85

-70.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$29.74 BAM 50.7

-34.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿188

$5.96 BAM 10.16

-4.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.20 BAM 2.04

50.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.52

$1.16 BAM 1.97

-33.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.47

$0.87 BAM 1.49

-59.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.46 BAM 2.49

51.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.75 BAM 2.99

116.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.0

$1.33 BAM 2.28

54.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.3

$1.05 BAM 1.79

43.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.47

$2.43 BAM 4.14

-42.39%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.0

$2.97 BAM 5.07

-23.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$10.11 BAM 17.24

60.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.2

$7.16 BAM 12.21

-59.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$11.32 BAM 19.30

-16.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.0

$1.81 BAM 3.08

48.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.20

$1.74 BAM 2.96

-37.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.7

$2.34 BAM 3.99

-30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.51

$2.01 BAM 3.43

-27.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.45

$1.16 BAM 1.97

10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.14

$1.45 BAM 2.47

-26.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.83

$0.91 BAM 1.55

-20.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.48

$0.86 BAM 1.47

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿140

$3.79 BAM 6.46

11.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$7.92 BAM 13.51

130.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.30 BAM 2.21

25.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.06 BAM 3.51

40.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.17

$1.46 BAM 2.49

-39.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,786

$34.85 BAM 59.4

54.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.96

$1.19 BAM 2.03

-1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.21

$1.06 BAM 1.80

-45.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.2

$10.69 BAM 18.21

-77.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.17

$1.47 BAM 2.51

-1.36%

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

$21.0K ฿698.0K

$31.4K BAM 53.5K

-33.07%

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

$26.4K ฿877.8K

$22.3K BAM 38.0K

18.68%

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

$63.7 ฿2,114

$208 BAM 355

-69.40%

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

$12.89 ฿428

$18.78 BAM 32.00

-31.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$21.98 BAM 37.46

-6.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,296

$33.50 BAM 57.1

16.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$11.89 BAM 20.26

-67.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.66 BAM 9.65

16.25%

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

$784 ฿26.0K

$147 BAM 251

432.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.4K

$3,943 BAM 6,721

272.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,831

$29.56 BAM 50.4

86.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿822

$17.99 BAM 30.66

37.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,127

$100 BAM 171

-6.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,457

$117 BAM 199

-36.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$223 BAM 379

120.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,574

$205 BAM 349

40.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$314 BAM 536

183.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$285 BAM 485

83.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,487 BAM 2,534

32.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,345 BAM 2,293

7.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$812 BAM 1,385

-25.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.3

29.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bihac: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $223 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bihac pays 35% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $30.00 in Bihac. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 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 7% in total monthly costs ($932 vs $995 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 35% 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: $490 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 $20.00 versus $30.00 in Bihac. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $995 in Bihac – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $995 in Bihac, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bihac. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 7% less than in Bihac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.