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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $273 in Bogra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $453 in Bogra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $633 in Bogra.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 215% more expensive than in Bogra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bogra 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.67 ৳206

17.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$4.19 ৳516

337.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.03 ৳621

48.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.14 ৳510

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ৳611

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.11 ৳137

81.98%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.28 ৳34.83

203.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.19 ৳22.84

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.61 ৳75.2

170.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.58 ৳71.9

170.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.53 ৳65.1

124.53%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.09 ৳134

77.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.12 ৳508

292.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.21 ৳273

35.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.37 ৳786

71.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.09 ৳258

29.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.74 ৳91.0

58.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.79 ৳220

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.47 ৳57.9

240.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.44 ৳53.9

213.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.37 ৳45.24

224.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.16 ৳19.45

318.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.24 ৳29.75

133.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$9.60 ৳1,183

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳480

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 ৳827

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.36 ৳291

96.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.47 ৳57.7

87.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$4.95 ৳610

290.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.85 ৳104

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.42 ৳51.8

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.62 ৳199

406.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.03 ৳127

18.45%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$28.4K ৳3.5M

-24.77%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.1K ৳3.5M

-19.92%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$20.77 ৳2,560

240.25%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.81 ৳593

191.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$12.89 ৳1,589

35.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$9.65 ৳1,190

336.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.57 ৳1,426

-40.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.40 ৳296

146.67%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$27.06 ৳3,336

1040.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$493 ৳60.8K

2916.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$18.68 ৳2,303

198.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$23.88 ৳2,944

9.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$32.48 ৳4,005

155.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$36.46 ৳4,495

93.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$74.3 ৳9,165

481.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$29.23 ৳3,604

717.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$225 ৳27.8K

265.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$92.2 ৳11.4K

455.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$517 ৳63.7K

270.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$301 ৳37.1K

387.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$232 ৳28.6K

149.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

-52.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bogra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $74.3 in Bogra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 150% 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $4.00 in Bogra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $91.0 per month, with Bogra 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 Bogra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bogra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 150% higher in Chiang Mai, 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $74.3 in Bogra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bogra – a meal for two runs $4.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $273 in Bogra – a 215% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Bogra 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 Bogra 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 Bogra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.