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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $277 in Bogra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $457 in Bogra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $637 in Bogra.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 213% more expensive than Bogra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bogra 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.66 ৳204

16.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$4.02 ৳493

363.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.87 ৳598

60.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 ৳506

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 ৳612

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.08 ৳132

80.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.26 ৳31.56

226.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.18 ৳22.21

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.58 ৳70.8

194.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.58 ৳70.6

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.53 ৳64.7

115.09%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.07 ৳132

80.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.99 ৳490

306.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.21 ৳272

41.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.08 ৳745

79.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.07 ৳255

32.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.79 ৳96.7

53.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.78 ৳219

-8.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.51 ৳62.6

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.43 ৳52.7

225.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.40 ৳48.56

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.18 ৳21.70

266.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.24 ৳29.51

120.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$9.87 ৳1,210

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.02 ৳494

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 ৳798

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.31 ৳283

103.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.48 ৳58.4

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$4.98 ৳611

285.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.84 ৳103

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.39 ৳47.88

230.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.68 ৳207

366.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.99 ৳121

28.28%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$28.6K ৳3.5M

-25.51%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$27.7K ৳3.4M

-19.83%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$20.24 ৳2,482

241.25%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.79 ৳588

193.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.13 ৳1,610

37.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$9.50 ৳1,165

332.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.77 ৳1,444

-40.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.48 ৳305

138.71%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$26.93 ৳3,303

1010.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$492 ৳60.3K

2940.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$18.30 ৳2,244

198.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$23.93 ৳2,936

11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$32.34 ৳3,967

162.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$36.50 ৳4,478

93.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$75.2 ৳9,230

469.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$28.89 ৳3,543

721.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$228 ৳28.0K

251.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$93.9 ৳11.5K

448.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$532 ৳65.3K

270.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$303 ৳37.2K

386.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$227 ৳27.8K

172.26%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bogra: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $75.2 in Bogra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 172% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $4.00 in Bogra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $90.0 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 213% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 172% more on average, 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $75.2 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $277 in Bogra – a 213% 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 213% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.