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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $706 in Bonao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,089 in Bonao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,472 in Bonao.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 21% more expensive than Bonao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bonao 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$5.63 DOP 335

-65.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$27.24 DOP 1,621

-30.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$5.03 DOP 300

57.46%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.96 DOP 116

-2.55%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.99 DOP 58.9

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.79 DOP 47.31

-55.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$2.41 DOP 143

-8.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.03 DOP 180

25.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.37 DOP 81.8

19.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.42 DOP 84.7

14.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.94 DOP 56.2

25.53%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$1.60 DOP 95.2

25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$7.32 DOP 435

117.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$5.68 DOP 338

-47.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$10.86 DOP 646

-0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.34 DOP 140

11.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$0.64 DOP 37.93

90.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$2.27 DOP 135

-25.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.32 DOP 78.8

19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$2.17 DOP 129

-39.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.13 DOP 67.1

3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.76 DOP 44.97

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.54 DOP 31.87

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$5.75 DOP 342

-21.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$7.24 DOP 431

151.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$2.47 DOP 147

-25.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.23 DOP 192

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.57 DOP 34.14

56.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$27.60 DOP 1,643

-29.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$3.36 DOP 200

-59.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$2.19 DOP 131

-38.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$2.43 DOP 145

239.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.21 DOP 72.2

4.96%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$26.1K DOP 1.6M

-19.07%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$32.3K DOP 1.9M

-30.40%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$75.4 DOP 4,486

-6.93%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$25.18 DOP 1,499

-45.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$34.52 DOP 2,055

-49.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$16.85 DOP 1,003

146.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$2.48 DOP 148

133.06%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$265 DOP 15.8K

15.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$8,245 DOP 490.8K

79.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$60.7 DOP 3,610

-10.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$51.3 DOP 3,051

-49.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$33.37 DOP 1,986

153.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$33.79 DOP 2,011

105.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$142 DOP 8,457

198.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$103 DOP 6,136

131.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$288 DOP 17.1K

186.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$216 DOP 12.9K

138.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bonao: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $142 in Bonao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $27.00 in Bonao. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $204, with Bonao cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bonao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bonao differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $706 including rent). Bonao is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $1,058 in Bonao to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $142 in Bonao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bonao runs roughly 42% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $306 in Chiang Mai versus $265 in Bonao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bonao gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bonao 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 Bonao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.