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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $347 in Birtamod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $549 in Birtamod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Birtamod, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 174% more than Birtamod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Birtamod are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Birtamod 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.43 NPR 372

-13.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$21.50 NPR 3,287

-7.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.45 NPR 1,139

-22.28%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.41 NPR 215

29.79%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.43 NPR 66.0

81.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.14 NPR 21.03

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.65 NPR 253

41.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.92 NPR 446

26.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.62 NPR 94.8

227.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.40 NPR 60.6

300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.18 NPR 180

20.34%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.62 NPR 248

34.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.05 NPR 926

162.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.83 NPR 433

8.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$2.69 NPR 412

266.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.05 NPR 313

28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.37 NPR 209

-19.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.91 NPR 139

79.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.41 NPR 62.9

273.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.40 NPR 60.9

210.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.62 NPR 94.1

82.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.24 NPR 36.46

108.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.90 NPR 444

47.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.61 NPR 246

5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.89 NPR 441

0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.11 NPR 17.25

754.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.92 NPR 293

-35.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.34 NPR 205

-60.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$3.28 NPR 501

-26.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.12 NPR 172

28.57%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$29.1K NPR 4.4M

-27.06%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$43.9K NPR 6.7M

-37.86%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$66.5 NPR 10.2K

-2.30%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$4.81 NPR 736

177.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$5.37 NPR 820

287.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$8.26 NPR 1,263

389.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$9.30 NPR 1,422

-57.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.00 NPR 306

235.50%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$81.8 NPR 12.5K

862.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,871 NPR 438.9K

426.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$15.92 NPR 2,434

253.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$11.61 NPR 1,776

114.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$26.69 NPR 4,081

181.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$52.6 NPR 8,045

819.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$36.80 NPR 5,626

680.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$107 NPR 16.3K

751.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$53.0 NPR 8,107

900.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$126 NPR 19.2K

381.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Birtamod: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $52.6 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 381% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Birtamod. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $105 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $347 in Birtamod – roughly 174% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $520 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $22.00 in Birtamod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Birtamod, where all-in costs run around $347, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Birtamod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $347 in Birtamod to $950 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.