Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Binh Duong Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Binh Duong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $579 in Binh Duong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $944 in Binh Duong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,308 in Binh Duong.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 50% more expensive than Binh Duong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Binh Duong 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.98 ₫51.9K

-2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.48 ₫301.6K

62.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.69 ₫123.3K

66.74%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.78 ₫46.7K

9.55%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.47 ₫12.4K

80.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.28 ₫7,242

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.88 ₫23.1K

142.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.06 ₫28.0K

251.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.51 ₫39.8K

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.76 ₫19.9K

114.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.65 ₫17.0K

75.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.46 ₫38.5K

32.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.68 ₫306.8K

38.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.40 ₫89.3K

-8.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.83 ₫258.2K

10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.12 ₫55.8K

29.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.59 ₫15.6K

105.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.70 ₫18.5K

131.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.02 ₫26.9K

55.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.93 ₫24.4K

50.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.05 ₫27.6K

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.71 ₫18.6K

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.49 ₫12.9K

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$0.80 ₫21.1K

486.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.70 ₫254.9K

92.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.60 ₫15.8K

200.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.98 ₫25.8K

229.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.35 ₫9,085

157.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.68 ₫175.5K

187.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.37 ₫9,617

281.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.60 ₫15.8K

115.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.12 ₫82.0K

151.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.84 ₫22.1K

51.19%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$36.8K ₫968.2M

-42.26%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.3K ₫900.7M

-35.21%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$38.15 ₫1.0M

81.05%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$6.04 ₫158.8K

133.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$6.34 ₫166.7K

183.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$21.24 ₫558.0K

93.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.76 ₫203.9K

-10.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.03 ₫79.7K

95.38%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$275 ₫7.2M

8.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$14.1K ₫369.9M

6.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$31.20 ₫819.7K

75.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$15.29 ₫401.6K

75.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$77.7 ₫2.0M

9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$69.6 ₫1.8M

1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$258 ₫6.8M

65.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$161 ₫4.2M

47.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$607 ₫16.0M

31.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$383 ₫10.1M

34.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,575 ₫41.4M

25.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$953 ₫25.0M

54.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$340 ₫8.9M

81.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

-45.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Binh Duong: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $258 in Binh Duong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 82% 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 $11.00 in Binh Duong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $173 per month, with Binh Duong cheaper across the board.

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 Binh Duong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Binh Duong differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $579 including rent). Binh Duong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chiang Mai pays 82% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $258 in Binh Duong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Binh Duong – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. 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 $579 in Binh Duong – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Binh Duong 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 Binh Duong 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 Binh Duong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.