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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $94.3 in Borama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $244 in Borama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $393 in Borama, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 804% more than Borama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Borama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Borama 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.02 SOS 581

69.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.95 SOS 1,673

-33.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.04 SOS 1,722

0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.99 SOS 1,127

39.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.03 SOS 582

13.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$61.1 SOS 34.7K

592.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$40.34 SOS 22.9K

501.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$295 SOS 167.3K

170.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$246 SOS 139.2K

106.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Borama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $61.1 in Borama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Borama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $94.3 in Borama – roughly 804% 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 $141 in Borama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Borama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $94.3 in Borama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 358% 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 $94.3 in Borama, 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 $94.3 in Borama 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 Borama. 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.