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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $920 in Chiang Mai versus $197 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Chiang Mai versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Chiang Mai versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 367% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 33% lower, Brikama 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$6.21 GMD 463

-66.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.71 GMD 52.9

4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.48 GMD 185

-13.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.33 GMD 24.49

109.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.32 GMD 24.11

181.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

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

$13.19 ฿433

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

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

$805 ฿26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$135 GMD 10.1K

108.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$274 GMD 20.5K

224.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Brikama: August 17, 2026

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 Brikama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 367% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,380 in Chiang Mai and $296 in Brikama 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2011% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $920 per month in Chiang Mai versus $197 in Brikama – a 367% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $197 in Brikama versus $920 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Brikama 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 Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 367% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.