Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bijelo Polje Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bijelo Polje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,347 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,114 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,881 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Bijelo Polje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Bijelo Polje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bijelo Polje 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.0
$11.52 €9.90
-81.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿653
$37.30 €32.07
-46.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿190
$9.52 €8.19
-39.18%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.1
$2.68 €2.31
-31.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.49
$2.54 €2.18
-69.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.63 €1.40
-80.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿76.8
$2.93 €2.52
-20.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$3.42 €2.94
8.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿66.8
$1.19 €1.03
70.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.5
$0.99 €0.85
61.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.53
$3.04 €2.61
-53.29%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.6
$3.25 €2.79
-32.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿523
$9.02 €7.75
76.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿101
$7.77 €6.68
-60.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿324
$13.31 €11.45
-25.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.4
$1.34 €1.15
96.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.02
$1.58 €1.36
-30.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.6
$1.65 €1.41
-1.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.3
$3.14 €2.70
-51.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿40.93
$0.97 €0.83
27.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.19
$1.28 €1.10
-11.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.26
$1.58 €1.36
-53.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.40
$0.91 €0.78
-45.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$4.10 €3.53
4.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿591
$4.76 €4.09
277.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿55.8
$1.30 €1.11
30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.2
$1.86 €1.60
55.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.97
$1.72 €1.48
-45.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,818
$40.48 €34.80
36.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.56
$1.17 €1.01
5.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.57
$1.19 €1.03
-55.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿78.9
$17.18 €14.77
-86.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.32
$1.77 €1.52
-18.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿696.8K
$33.9K €29.2K
-37.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿897.8K
$22.0K €18.9K
24.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,135
$141 €121
-53.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿439
$13.31 €11.44
0.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿685
$35.21 €30.27
-40.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,329
$47.27 €40.64
-14.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿130
$14.93 €12.84
-73.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿221
$8.08 €6.95
-16.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿25.9K
$58.0 €49.83
1257.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿497.2K
$7,175 €6,169
110.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,849
$85.6 €73.6
-34.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿820
$34.33 €29.52
-27.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,048
$76.2 €65.5
21.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,470
$100 €86.4
-25.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿15.9K
$664 €571
-27.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,446
$485 €417
-40.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿29.9K
$1,341 €1,153
-32.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.4K
$978 €840
-45.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.1K
$3,533 €3,038
-43.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.7K
$2,390 €2,055
-39.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿19.9K
$874 €752
-30.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.45
2.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bijelo Polje: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $664 in Bijelo Polje. 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 44% higher in Bijelo Polje, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Bijelo Polje. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Bijelo Polje – so Bijelo Polje 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 Bijelo Polje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bijelo Polje cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Bijelo Polje is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,021 in Bijelo Polje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Bijelo Polje?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Bijelo Polje – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Bijelo Polje?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $37.00 in Bijelo Polje. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Bijelo Polje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Bijelo Polje at $1,347. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bijelo Polje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Bijelo Polje more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Bijelo Polje?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bijelo Polje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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