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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,723 in Budva, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,769 in Budva, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,815 in Budva, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Budva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Budva is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$16.52 €14.21

-88.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$65.8 €56.6

-71.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$11.51 €9.90

-32.06%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.86 €2.46

-31.82%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.20 €1.89

-61.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.43 €1.23

-75.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.44 €2.96

-38.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.80 €3.27

-1.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.37 €1.18

24.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.11 €0.95

46.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.37 €2.04

-51.90%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.26 €2.81

-40.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.03 €7.77

79.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.02 €6.90

-61.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.86 €10.21

-8.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.30 €1.12

111.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.79 €1.54

-32.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.67 €1.44

-2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.93 €2.52

-45.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.04 €0.89

34.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.25 €1.08

-6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.71 €1.47

-61.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.18 €1.01

-55.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.48 €3.86

4.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.56 €5.64

184.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.28 €1.10

40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.72 €1.48

87.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$2.29 €1.97

-60.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$40.39 €34.75

-52.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.18 €1.01

19.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.02 €0.88

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.20 €14.80

-54.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.78 €1.53

-28.65%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$29.8K €25.7K

-28.71%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.2K €22.6K

-15.35%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$159 €137

-56.64%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.52 €15.93

-23.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$33.49 €28.81

-46.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$60.2 €51.8

-31.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$23.86 €20.52

-70.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.68 €4.89

4.23%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$419 €361

-28.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$10.2K €8,803

46.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$118 €101

-53.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$49.05 €42.19

-45.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$112 €96.1

-23.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$206 €177

-65.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$938 €807

-54.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$699 €601

-66.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,748 €1,503

-54.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,415 €1,217

-63.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,240 €3,648

-53.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,169 €2,726

-53.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,047 €900

-41.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.93

-15.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Budva: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $938 in Budva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Budva, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $66.0 in Budva. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $238 in Budva – so Budva wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Budva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $1,723 in Budva – roughly 99% apart. Budva costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,584 in Budva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,723 in Budva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 110% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Budva at $1,723. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budva it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,723 in Budva. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.