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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,119 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,547 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,975 in Boroko, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Boroko 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.77 PGK 33.38

-74.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$39.14 PGK 168

-51.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.03 PGK 25.89

28.52%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.34 PGK 10.06

-17.95%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.82 PGK 3.50

-3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.78 PGK 3.35

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.35 PGK 10.11

-5.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.99 PGK 17.16

-8.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.72 PGK 7.40

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.26 PGK 5.39

29.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.29 PGK 5.53

-7.75%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.73 PGK 16.02

-46.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$4.48 PGK 19.23

256.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.41 PGK 27.56

-52.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.05 PGK 30.29

54.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.95 PGK 16.99

-30.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.86 PGK 12.30

-58.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.90 PGK 12.46

-43.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.90 PGK 12.44

-47.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$3.16 PGK 13.57

-56.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.94 PGK 4.02

26.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.17 PGK 5.03

-40.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.49 PGK 2.11

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$5.87 PGK 25.20

-21.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.23 PGK 22.49

216.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.18 PGK 5.07

55.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.67 PGK 7.17

91.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.50 PGK 2.14

76.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$32.62 PGK 140

-42.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$4.73 PGK 20.31

-71.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.44 PGK 6.20

-6.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$11.95 PGK 51.3

-34.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.83 PGK 3.55

48.19%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$23.0K PGK 98.6K

-5.82%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$24.6K PGK 105.7K

-8.37%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$67.0 PGK 288

5.25%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$48.35 PGK 208

-71.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$236 PGK 1,012

-92.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$45.77 PGK 197

-9.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.46 PGK 66.4

-54.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$7.24 PGK 31.12

-20.30%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$355 PGK 1,526

-13.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,442 PGK 10.5K

498.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$31.00 PGK 133

79.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$14.57 PGK 62.6

79.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$48.48 PGK 208

76.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$28.45 PGK 122

153.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$3,542 PGK 15.2K

-87.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$237 PGK 1,016

0.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$3,536 PGK 15.2K

-76.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$237 PGK 1,020

115.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$363 PGK 1,558

70.63%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Boroko: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $3,542 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 71% 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $221 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 29% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,678 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $355 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 $869, than in Boroko at $1,119. 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 $869 versus $1,119 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.