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 $397 in Birtamod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Birtamod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $927 in Birtamod, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 115% 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

$2.04 ฿68.4

$1.85 NPR 284

10.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$23.39 NPR 3,583

-20.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$7.67 NPR 1,176

2.48%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.33 NPR 203

52.63%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.49 NPR 74.9

63.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.19 NPR 28.79

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.99 NPR 305

7.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.51 NPR 538

4.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.65 NPR 99.0

166.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.40 NPR 61.3

292.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.61 NPR 247

-25.47%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.51 NPR 231

30.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$7.64 NPR 1,170

112.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.22 NPR 494

-4.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$6.19 NPR 948

74.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.24 NPR 344

23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.09 NPR 166

7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.19 NPR 182

43.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.68 NPR 104

133.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.46 NPR 70.1

202.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.65 NPR 99.5

78.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.53 NPR 80.4

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.27 NPR 41.71

92.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.84 NPR 435

63.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.29 NPR 350

-21.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$3.21 NPR 492

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.17 NPR 26.52

435.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$2.13 NPR 326

-33.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.77 NPR 118

74.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$3.67 NPR 562

120.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.24 NPR 190

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-33.06%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$39.9K NPR 6.1M

-45.37%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$26.39 NPR 4,042

170.29%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$4.31 NPR 661

225.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$9.67 NPR 1,482

85.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$18.08 NPR 2,769

125.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.43 NPR 1,138

-7.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.65 NPR 406

115.85%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$73.2 NPR 11.2K

321.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,725 NPR 417.5K

438.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$24.66 NPR 3,777

126.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$27.77 NPR 4,254

-6.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$45.07 NPR 6,904

88.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$29.25 NPR 4,480

142.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$103 NPR 15.8K

311.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$64.8 NPR 9,931

273.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$206 NPR 31.5K

287.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$145 NPR 22.3K

248.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$124 NPR 18.9K

381.35%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Birtamod: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $103 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Birtamod. Groceries tell a different story – $244 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, $397 in Birtamod – roughly 115% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $596 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 $23.00 in Birtamod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% 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 $397 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 $397 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.