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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $351 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $572 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $793 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Brahmanbaria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Brahmanbaria are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Brahmanbaria 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.06 ৳252

0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$12.09 ৳1,483

62.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.38 ৳660

5.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 ৳328

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 ৳491

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.98 ৳243

-8.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.36 ৳44.38

113.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.12 ৳15.20

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.82 ৳100

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.60 ৳73.6

151.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.68 ৳83.6

105.88%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.94 ৳116

140.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$7.59 ৳931

113.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$1.47 ৳180

97.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$7.45 ৳914

26.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.24 ৳275

19.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.85 ৳104

28.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.99 ৳244

-18.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.86 ৳106

69.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.47 ৳57.6

172.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.83 ৳102

27.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.47 ৳57.5

53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.32 ৳39.80

65.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.60 ৳1,056

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ৳98.1

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ৳174

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.92 ৳359

44.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.46 ৳56.0

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.78 ৳95.7

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.55 ৳67.0

5.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$3.97 ৳487

-39.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.10 ৳135

31.82%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$32.9K ৳4.0M

-36.14%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$44.3K ৳5.4M

-40.29%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$29.53 ৳3,623

115.54%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$5.58 ৳685

131.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$12.55 ৳1,540

63.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$12.07 ৳1,481

223.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.76 ৳461

75.00%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$35.21 ৳4,321

2126.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,495 ৳183.5K

881.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$23.14 ৳2,839

138.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$19.66 ৳2,412

25.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$57.2 ৳7,019

64.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$34.66 ৳4,254

113.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$101 ৳12.4K

384.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$50.7 ৳6,218

468.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$186 ৳22.8K

380.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$112 ৳13.8K

364.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$713 ৳87.5K

176.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$266 ৳32.6K

443.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.5

-51.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Brahmanbaria: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $101 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Brahmanbaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $111 – 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 166%, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $526 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $351 in Brahmanbaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $35.21 in Brahmanbaria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Brahmanbaria, where all-in costs run around $351, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Brahmanbaria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.