Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Buff Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Buff Bay

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 25.4% cheaper than Buff Bay without rent, and 2.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 26.5% cheaper than Buff Bay without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.2

$7.59 JMD 1,188

-73.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿588

$63.7 JMD 9,966

-70.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿237

$5.13 JMD 802

45.81%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.2

$4.40 JMD 688

-54.55%

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

$0.85 ฿26.81

$0.72 JMD 112

18.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.13

$0.62 JMD 96.5

-43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.0

$1.91 JMD 298

15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿119

$3.11 JMD 486

20.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.4

$4.25 JMD 665

-59.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.7

$3.66 JMD 573

-55.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.66

$1.56 JMD 244

-25.64%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.6

$3.56 JMD 556

-44.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿504

$10.89 JMD 1,703

46.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿100

$6.28 JMD 982

-49.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿345

$7.42 JMD 1,161

46.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.7

$5.89 JMD 922

-55.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.70

$3.12 JMD 488

-60.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.7

$4.12 JMD 645

-58.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.3

$3.05 JMD 478

-47.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.90

$2.12 JMD 331

-37.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿36.99

$1.96 JMD 306

-40.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.46

$3.12 JMD 488

-78.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.64

$1.50 JMD 235

-62.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿143

$8.84 JMD 1,383

-48.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿604

$11.41 JMD 1,786

67.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.0

$2.79 JMD 436

-36.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿101

$3.16 JMD 494

0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿598

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.98

$1.13 JMD 176

20.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.80

$3.11 JMD 487

-56.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿254

$6.31 JMD 987

27.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.34

$1.22 JMD 191

1.64%

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

$21.2K ฿669.8K

$43.6K JMD 6.8M

-51.46%

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

$21.8K ฿688.5K

$33.5K JMD 5.2M

-35.10%

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

$71.2 ฿2,255

$164 JMD 25.6K

-56.53%

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

$14.09 ฿446

$21.75 JMD 3,402

-35.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿553

$50.7 JMD 7,935

-65.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,332

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿188

$13.35 JMD 2,087

-55.51%

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

$307 ฿9,728

$226 JMD 35.3K

36.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿468.2K

$2,449 JMD 383.1K

504.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,762

$25.58 JMD 4,001

117.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿848

$25.60 JMD 4,005

4.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,634

$70.6 JMD 11.0K

17.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,219

$77.0 JMD 12.0K

-8.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,504

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿15.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Buff Bay: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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