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 $347 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $579 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 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

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.60 ৳196

22.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$14.65 ৳1,799

28.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.39 ৳907

7.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.63 ৳692

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ৳517

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.69 ৳207

13.02%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.36 ৳43.84

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.14 ৳16.85

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.79 ৳97.1

107.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.62 ৳76.4

161.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.61 ৳75.0

93.44%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.01 ৳124

99.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.98 ৳1,102

76.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$1.54 ৳189

95.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.28 ৳894

47.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.22 ৳272

17.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.95 ৳117

28.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.03 ৳249

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.84 ৳103

88.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.48 ৳58.8

175.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.89 ৳109

31.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.38 ৳46.34

76.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.27 ৳33.35

107.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.50 ৳1,044

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ৳96.2

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ৳180

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.96 ৳363

53.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.22 ৳27.04

304.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$10.24 ৳1,258

89.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.80 ৳97.7

68.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.42 ৳51.9

221.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.50 ৳307

230.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.05 ৳129

20.95%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.3K ৳4.0M

-34.46%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$33.8K ৳4.2M

-33.56%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$23.06 ৳2,831

204.21%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.69 ৳698

142.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$13.18 ৳1,618

33.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$13.47 ৳1,654

208.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.74 ৳1,442

-43.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.24 ৳398

78.40%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$29.89 ৳3,670

924.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,337 ৳164.2K

1008.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$20.71 ৳2,542

162.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$18.36 ৳2,254

42.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$52.8 ৳6,478

60.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$33.56 ৳4,120

106.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$70.3 ৳8,636

502.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$41.89 ৳5,143

468.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$164 ৳20.1K

402.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$95.6 ৳11.7K

438.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$610 ৳74.9K

236.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$392 ৳48.2K

288.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Brahmanbaria: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $70.3 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: $243 vs $114 – 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $520 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 $347 in Brahmanbaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 89% 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 $347 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.