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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $527 in Borujerd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $829 in Borujerd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,131 in Borujerd.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 63% more expensive than in Borujerd, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Borujerd 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$3.98 $3.98

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$17.16 $17.16

6.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.42 $4.42

69.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.14 $1.14

77.19%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.43 $0.43

97.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.94 $0.94

-61.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.64 $0.64

157.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.53 $0.53

196.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.93 $1.93

-38.34%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.13 $1.13

71.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$3.47 $3.47

366.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.31 $3.31

-9.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.97 $9.97

9.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.85 $0.85

218.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.36 $1.36

-13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.84 $0.84

101.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.58 $0.58

175.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.52 $0.52

165.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.46 $0.46

160.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.59 $0.59

13.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.23 $0.23

143.48%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.66 $0.66

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.26 $2.26

105.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.19 $0.19

363.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$10.18 $10.18

89.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.33 $0.33

312.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.29 $0.29

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.03 $2.03

304.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.77 $0.77

58.44%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$71.2K $71.2K

-70.03%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$54.8K $54.8K

-58.92%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$15.50 $15.50

355.94%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$2.02 $2.02

595.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$5.87 $5.87

197.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$15.84 $15.84

166.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$12.43 $12.43

-44.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.52 $1.52

289.47%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$118 $118

161.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,971 $1,971

654.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$22.65 $22.65

146.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.43 $25.43

2.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$112 $112

-25.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$70.7 $70.7

-0.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$287 $287

50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$196 $196

21.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$623 $623

32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$318 $318

60.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,146 $1,146

67.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$588 $588

149.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

-77.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Borujerd: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $287 in Borujerd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $17.00 in Borujerd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $107 per month, with Borujerd cheaper across the board.

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 Borujerd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Borujerd wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Borujerd the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $790 in Borujerd 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $287 in Borujerd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $527 in Borujerd – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Borujerd runs roughly 90% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Borujerd gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Borujerd delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Borujerd hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Borujerd 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 Borujerd gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.