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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $653 in Binjai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,019 in Binjai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,385 in Binjai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 31% more expensive than in Binjai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Binjai 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

29.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$12.51 Rp 225.9K

49.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.47 Rp 62.6K

126.51%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.65 Rp 29.8K

23.03%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.55 Rp 10.0K

45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.28 Rp 5,074

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.52 Rp 45.5K

-15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.45 Rp 62.4K

6.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.17 Rp 21.1K

47.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.12 Rp 20.3K

40.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

37.93%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.60 Rp 29.0K

23.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$8.16 Rp 147.3K

98.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.25 Rp 58.7K

-5.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$8.07 Rp 145.7K

33.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

14.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

-22.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.87 Rp 33.7K

-8.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.49 Rp 26.9K

6.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

0.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.89 Rp 34.2K

-38.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

-25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.45 Rp 8,081

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.47 Rp 44.6K

88.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$21.96 Rp 396.5K

-19.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.02 Rp 36.5K

-11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.08 Rp 55.6K

8.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.29 Rp 5,319

213.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.06 Rp 181.6K

85.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

147.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.34 Rp 6,202

294.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

183.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

50.00%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$25.0K Rp 451.5M

-14.30%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$27.6K Rp 498.8M

-21.02%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$69.5 Rp 1.3M

2.60%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.37 Rp 78.9K

220.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$22.87 Rp 412.8K

-21.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$23.23 Rp 419.3K

75.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.99 Rp 108.1K

14.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.08 Rp 55.6K

85.71%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$94.9 Rp 1.7M

224.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$7,692 Rp 138.9M

90.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$41.13 Rp 742.5K

35.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$30.39 Rp 548.7K

-14.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$66.1 Rp 1.2M

28.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$73.7 Rp 1.3M

-3.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$253 Rp 4.6M

67.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$159 Rp 2.9M

52.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$581 Rp 10.5M

37.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$330 Rp 6.0M

53.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

87.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$715 Rp 12.9M

104.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Binjai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $253 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $13.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $211 per month, with Binjai 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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $979 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $253 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $653 in Binjai – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 85% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Binjai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Binjai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Binjai 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 Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.