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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $896 in Borjomi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,282 in Borjomi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,669 in Borjomi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Borjomi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Borjomi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Borjomi 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.52 ₾22.62

-77.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.31 ₾77.8

-36.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.17 ₾19.03

9.07%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.96 ₾5.20

-0.51%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.75 ₾1.99

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.27 ₾0.72

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.48 ₾3.94

43.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.23 ₾5.93

67.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.76 ₾4.66

-2.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 ₾1.34

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.52 ₾4.03

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.20 ₾5.85

-12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.90 ₾18.32

134.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.18 ₾13.75

-39.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.94 ₾23.75

21.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.70 ₾1.87

292.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.48 ₾3.94

-18.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.32 ₾3.51

22.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.24 ₾3.30

28.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.52 ₾1.38

169.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.42 ₾1.13

178.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.11 ₾2.95

-40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.39 ₾1.02

35.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.00 ₾7.98

56.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.47 ₾14.53

241.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.12 ₾2.98

60.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.50 ₾3.99

115.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.36 ₾0.95

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.07 ₾2.84

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.55 ₾1.47

134.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.87 ₾7.62

173.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.04 ₾2.76

22.12%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$14.6K ₾38.9K

45.28%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$18.6K ₾49.4K

19.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$32.97 ₾87.6

109.49%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.49 ₾27.84

34.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.95 ₾34.39

39.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$111 ₾295

-63.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.60 ₾14.87

5.71%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$245 ₾651

21.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,858 ₾7,590

423.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$87.2 ₾231

-37.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$40.87 ₾109

-34.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$120 ₾318

-29.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$104 ₾276

-32.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$296 ₾787

44.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$257 ₾683

-7.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$441 ₾1,171

81.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$217 ₾577

137.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,128 ₾2,995

75.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$669 ₾1,776

120.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$456 ₾1,210

35.55%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Borjomi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $296 in Borjomi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Borjomi. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $166 in Borjomi – so Borjomi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Borjomi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Borjomi is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,343 in Borjomi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Borjomi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 49% cheaper in Borjomi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $896 in Borjomi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Borjomi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.