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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $774 in Brovary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,226 in Brovary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,677 in Brovary.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 10% more expensive than in Brovary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Brovary 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$7.97 ₴358

-74.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$33.81 ₴1,519

-44.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$6.14 ₴276

28.01%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.60 ₴71.9

26.87%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.66 ₴29.83

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.43 ₴19.19

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.01 ₴45.19

111.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$1.59 ₴71.6

130.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.25 ₴56.2

38.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.74 ₴33.17

112.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.43 ₴64.3

-16.08%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.51 ₴67.7

30.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$9.72 ₴437

66.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.00 ₴180

-23.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$7.63 ₴343

41.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$0.84 ₴37.81

229.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.46 ₴65.6

-19.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.84 ₴82.6

-7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$2.34 ₴105

-32.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.73 ₴32.66

90.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.55 ₴24.83

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.44 ₴64.6

-54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.49 ₴21.93

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.60 ₴117

78.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$4.38 ₴197

305.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$0.84 ₴37.84

113.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$1.31 ₴59.0

154.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.34 ₴15.47

167.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$3.69 ₴166

405.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$2.02 ₴90.6

-30.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.13 ₴5.75

930.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$2.88 ₴129

181.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.40 ₴63.0

-12.14%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$31.6K ₴1.4M

-32.08%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$24.7K ₴1.1M

-11.75%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$61.6 ₴2,768

15.76%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$5.32 ₴239

163.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$6.85 ₴308

161.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$63.5 ₴2,853

-35.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$9.48 ₴426

-27.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.97 ₴223

15.09%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$290 ₴13.0K

6.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$7,853 ₴352.8K

86.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$42.19 ₴1,896

32.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$23.81 ₴1,070

9.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$84.3 ₴3,787

0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$83.5 ₴3,750

-14.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$343 ₴15.4K

23.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$238 ₴10.7K

1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$487 ₴21.9K

63.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$387 ₴17.4K

31.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$498 ₴22.4K

19.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Brovary: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $343 in Brovary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $34.00 in Brovary. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $166, with Brovary cheaper for home cooking.

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 Brovary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Brovary differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $774 including rent). Brovary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $343 in Brovary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Brovary runs roughly 405% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $290 in Brovary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Brovary gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Brovary 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 Brovary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.