Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bojnord

For one person, living is cheaper in Bojnord: $523 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Bojnord
Learn more

Bojnord Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Bojnord

🇮🇷 Iran

$523

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bojnord

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bojnord actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Bojnord, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Bojnord $523

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $833 in Bojnord, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Bojnord $833

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,142 in Bojnord, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Bojnord $1,142

Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Bojnord, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bojnord are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bojnord 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$3.04 $3.04

-29.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿624

$18.80 $18.80

-0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$4.96 $4.96

12.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 $0.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.12 $1.12

48.21%

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

$0.65 ฿21.69

$0.39 $0.39

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.22

$0.26 $0.26

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$0.66 $0.66

206.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.21

$0.23 $0.23

513.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.67

$1.99 $1.99

-30.15%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$1.16 $1.16

104.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$2.06 $2.06

701.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.5

$2.61 $2.61

2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

$10.39 $10.39

-13.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.4

$0.96 $0.96

150.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.91

$1.54 $1.54

-32.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.85 $0.85

95.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$0.63 $0.63

147.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.50

$0.49 $0.49

153.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.44

$0.48 $0.48

127.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.54

$0.48 $0.48

58.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.24

$0.27 $0.27

88.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 $0.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$2.95 $2.95

39.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿601

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.33

$0.14 $0.14

564.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,773

$9.36 $9.36

465.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.45

$0.19 $0.19

521.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$0.52 $0.52

-67.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$1.94 $1.94

-6.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.38

$0.10 $0.10

1370.00%

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

$21.0K ฿704.5K

$60.5K $60.5K

-65.26%

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

$26.5K ฿889.1K

$67.3K $67.3K

-60.60%

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

$62.6 ฿2,098

$13.81 $13.81

353.01%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$2.72 $2.72

326.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$3.94 $3.94

415.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,270

$18.43 $18.43

105.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$13.46 $13.46

-72.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$1.97 $1.97

230.46%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$40.42 $40.42

1698.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿555.7K

$618 $618

2583.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,795

$19.80 $19.80

170.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$39.00 $39.00

-36.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,031

$95.1 $95.1

-4.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,413

$70.1 $70.1

2.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$288 $288

67.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$212 $212

46.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$785 $785

34.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$359 $359

83.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

$652 $652

270.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.9K

$344 $344

367.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$201 $201

196.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.5

-74.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bojnord: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Bojnord

$212 40.5% 31.7% $98

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Bojnord

$100 19.1% 57.7% $137

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Bojnord

$101 19.3% 6.9% $7.5

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Bojnord

$20 3.9% 78.3% $74

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Bojnord

$55 10.6% 27.8% $21

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Bojnord

$13 2.4% 78.3% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Bojnord

$22 4.3% 56.1% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $288 in Bojnord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Bojnord. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $100 in Bojnord – so Bojnord wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Bojnord

🕒 Local time

00:21 12:21 AM

20:51 8:51 PM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

207,196

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Bojnord 4,530 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bojnord

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bojnord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Bojnord, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $785 in Bojnord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bojnord, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $288 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $523 in Bojnord. That makes Bojnord about 44% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $40 in Bojnord. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bojnord, where all-in costs run around $523, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Bojnord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bojnord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Bojnord. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.