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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $401 in Birtamod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Birtamod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $958 in Birtamod, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Birtamod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Birtamod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Birtamod 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.86 NPR 283

5.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$24.13 NPR 3,666

-22.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.61 NPR 1,155

4.07%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.29 NPR 196

48.06%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.45 NPR 68.6

86.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.17 NPR 25.25

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.00 NPR 305

10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.55 NPR 540

7.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.66 NPR 100.0

148.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.43 NPR 66.1

276.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.64 NPR 250

-28.05%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.56 NPR 236

28.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.26 NPR 1,103

118.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.15 NPR 479

-4.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.28 NPR 954

71.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.24 NPR 341

16.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.04 NPR 158

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.25 NPR 190

36.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.69 NPR 105

128.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.49 NPR 74.7

169.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.69 NPR 105

69.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.49 NPR 74.3

36.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.27 NPR 41.33

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.84 NPR 431

59.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.34 NPR 356

-21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.27 NPR 496

-1.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.17 NPR 26.39

423.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.17 NPR 329

-37.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.77 NPR 116

75.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$3.69 NPR 560

123.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.27 NPR 193

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.9K NPR 4.9M

-33.77%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$40.8K NPR 6.2M

-44.94%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$26.56 NPR 4,035

164.12%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$4.25 NPR 646

224.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$9.78 NPR 1,486

79.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$17.86 NPR 2,714

132.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.49 NPR 1,138

-11.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.77 NPR 421

108.66%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$71.2 NPR 10.8K

330.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,771 NPR 421.0K

434.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$25.03 NPR 3,802

117.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.29 NPR 4,145

-4.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$46.22 NPR 7,022

82.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$29.07 NPR 4,416

138.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$104 NPR 15.8K

307.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$63.5 NPR 9,649

275.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$208 NPR 31.5K

297.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$145 NPR 22.1K

254.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$125 NPR 19.0K

408.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-58.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Birtamod: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $104 in Birtamod. 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 408% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $24.00 in Birtamod. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $132 in Birtamod – so Birtamod 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 Birtamod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $401 in Birtamod – roughly 112% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $602 in Birtamod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $24.00 in Birtamod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 84% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $401 in Birtamod, 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 $401 in Birtamod to $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Birtamod. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.