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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $573 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $799 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 146% more than Brahmanbaria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Brahmanbaria are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Brahmanbaria 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.66 ৳205

22.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$14.67 ৳1,813

27.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.34 ৳907

7.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 ৳718

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 ৳498

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.61 ৳199

26.09%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.38 ৳47.39

110.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.13 ৳16.48

169.23%

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

$0.75 ৳92.6

130.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.62 ৳76.2

153.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.60 ৳74.0

100.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.96 ৳119

105.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$8.83 ৳1,091

83.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$1.50 ৳185

104.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$7.54 ৳932

43.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.17 ৳268

27.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.95 ৳117

23.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.10 ৳260

-18.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.82 ৳101

93.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.47 ৳58.4

195.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.85 ৳105

36.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.37 ৳45.97

78.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.25 ৳30.75

108.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.49 ৳1,049

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ৳105

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ৳186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.81 ৳347

65.48%

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

$0.22 ৳27.22

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.31 ৳1,274

80.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.79 ৳97.6

78.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.39 ৳48.23

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.39 ৳296

239.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.04 ৳129

18.27%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$32.5K ৳4.0M

-34.07%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$33.7K ৳4.2M

-35.18%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$22.98 ৳2,840

210.40%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$5.56 ৳688

151.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$13.46 ৳1,663

33.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$13.57 ৳1,677

200.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.66 ৳1,441

-40.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.32 ৳411

72.29%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$29.07 ৳3,592

960.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,349 ৳166.7K

988.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$20.45 ৳2,527

172.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$18.17 ৳2,246

43.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$51.3 ৳6,335

65.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$33.87 ৳4,186

109.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$71.0 ৳8,774

496.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$42.15 ৳5,208

475.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$165 ৳20.3K

384.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$96.0 ৳11.9K

427.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$708 ৳87.4K

171.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$265 ৳32.8K

452.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.67

-57.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Brahmanbaria: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Brahmanbaria. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Brahmanbaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $113 – making Brahmanbaria the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Brahmanbaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 146%, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $519 in Brahmanbaria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brahmanbaria, 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 $346 in Brahmanbaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 81% less in Brahmanbaria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $346 in Brahmanbaria, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Brahmanbaria – 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 Brahmanbaria. 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.