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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,126 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,565 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,004 in Boroko, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Boroko 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$8.01 PGK 35.36

-74.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$39.06 PGK 172

-52.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.83 PGK 25.72

34.82%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.29 PGK 10.12

-11.35%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.82 PGK 3.61

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.79 PGK 3.47

-55.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.47 PGK 10.90

-13.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.10 PGK 18.08

-10.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.71 PGK 7.54

1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.30 PGK 5.74

20.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.32 PGK 5.84

-9.09%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.94 PGK 17.40

-50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.40 PGK 19.42

268.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.37 PGK 28.13

-51.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$6.90 PGK 30.44

56.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.94 PGK 17.37

-29.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.96 PGK 13.06

-60.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.00 PGK 13.22

-43.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.89 PGK 12.77

-44.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$3.18 PGK 14.05

-56.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.93 PGK 4.11

24.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.17 PGK 5.16

-43.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.47 PGK 2.06

10.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$6.09 PGK 26.89

-23.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$5.08 PGK 22.42

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.23 PGK 5.44

45.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.66 PGK 7.30

101.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.47 PGK 2.07

93.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$32.62 PGK 144

-42.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$4.83 PGK 21.32

-70.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.45 PGK 6.41

-7.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$11.79 PGK 52.0

-31.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.86 PGK 3.81

43.02%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$22.8K PGK 100.8K

-6.12%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$24.3K PGK 107.3K

-10.22%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$66.2 PGK 292

7.68%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$46.81 PGK 207

-70.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$236 PGK 1,041

-92.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$45.07 PGK 199

-9.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$15.53 PGK 68.5

-55.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$7.17 PGK 31.62

-20.22%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$365 PGK 1,611

-15.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$2,428 PGK 10.7K

504.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$31.84 PGK 140

75.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$14.61 PGK 64.5

78.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$47.19 PGK 208

79.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$28.51 PGK 126

149.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$3,607 PGK 15.9K

-88.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$236 PGK 1,043

2.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$3,633 PGK 16.0K

-78.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$237 PGK 1,046

113.79%

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

$363 PGK 1,603

63.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-54.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Boroko: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $3,607 in Boroko. 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 64% 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 $39.00 in Boroko. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $222 in Boroko – so Boroko 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 Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,689 in Boroko. 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.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $365 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Boroko at $1,126. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,126 in Boroko. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Boroko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.