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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $963 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,460 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,957 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bijeljina 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$8.90 BAM 15.00

-78.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.33 BAM 59.5

-47.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.99 BAM 8.41

56.71%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.44 BAM 2.42

35.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-50.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.09 BAM 1.83

-67.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.80 BAM 3.03

18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.38 BAM 4.01

56.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.61 BAM 2.71

6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.20 BAM 2.02

35.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.73 BAM 2.92

-34.10%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.10 BAM 5.23

-37.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.98 BAM 13.45

103.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.05 BAM 13.56

-61.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.18 BAM 20.53

-10.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.67 BAM 2.82

64.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-34.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.83 BAM 3.08

-11.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.67 BAM 4.51

-40.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.60 BAM 2.70

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.47 BAM 2.48

-20.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.14 BAM 1.92

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.67 BAM 1.12

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.73 BAM 6.28

25.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.02 BAM 15.19

106.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.84 BAM 1.42

114.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.45 BAM 2.45

122.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$2.41 BAM 4.05

-62.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$17.94 BAM 30.23

7.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.45 BAM 2.44

-2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.56 BAM 0.94

130.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$11.77 BAM 19.84

-33.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.41 BAM 2.38

-9.93%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.2K BAM 44.2K

-18.83%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$26.5K BAM 44.6K

-16.08%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$141 BAM 237

-51.00%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$19.14 BAM 32.25

-26.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$24.88 BAM 41.91

-27.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$30.66 BAM 51.7

33.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.80 BAM 14.83

-20.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.06 BAM 8.52

17.00%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$214 BAM 360

39.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$3,300 BAM 5,560

353.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$58.6 BAM 98.7

-6.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$26.71 BAM 44.99

0.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$135 BAM 227

-37.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$124 BAM 208

-42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$259 BAM 437

65.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$167 BAM 282

41.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$370 BAM 624

116.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$291 BAM 490

77.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,891 BAM 3,185

4.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,425 BAM 2,401

3.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$759 BAM 1,279

-18.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $259 in Bijeljina. 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 23% higher in Bijeljina, 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 $35.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Bijeljina – so Bijeljina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $963 in Bijeljina – roughly 11% apart. Bijeljina costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,444 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $963 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $963 in Bijeljina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $963 in Bijeljina. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bijeljina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.