Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bugojno

For one person, living is cheaper in Bugojno: $873 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $740 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bugojno, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Bugojno
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$873
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bugojno

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bugojno actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $873 in Bugojno, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Bugojno $873

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,307 in Bugojno, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Bugojno $1,307

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,742 in Bugojno, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Bugojno $1,742

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Bugojno, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Bugojno are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bugojno 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿72.0
$5.09 BAM 8.90
-58.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿628
$30.89 BAM 54.0
-39.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿189
$5.83 BAM 10.19
-3.95%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿56.1
$1.89 BAM 3.30
-12.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.83
$1.91 BAM 3.34
-65.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.29
$1.20 BAM 2.10
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.4
$2.63 BAM 4.61
-11.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿124
$2.11 BAM 3.69
73.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿68.0
$1.12 BAM 1.96
80.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.51
$0.89 BAM 1.56
58.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.96
$2.06 BAM 3.61
-32.52%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.9
$2.67 BAM 4.66
-11.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿557
$7.85 BAM 13.73
110.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿90.1
$7.24 BAM 12.65
-63.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿304
$10.47 BAM 18.29
-13.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.9
$1.14 BAM 2.00
110.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.13
$1.65 BAM 2.89
-36.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.41 BAM 2.47
17.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.6
$1.16 BAM 2.02
34.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.76
$1.02 BAM 1.79
21.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.66
$1.01 BAM 1.77
7.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.70
$0.72 BAM 1.26
5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.35
$0.66 BAM 1.16
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$3.81 BAM 6.67
8.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿605
$4.05 BAM 7.07
342.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.8
$0.78 BAM 1.36
107.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿95.2
$0.96 BAM 1.68
193.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.53
$1.22 BAM 2.13
-23.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,785
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.70
$0.90 BAM 1.57
31.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.79
$0.59 BAM 1.02
-71.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿61.1
$5.87 BAM 10.26
-69.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.69
$1.60 BAM 2.79
-8.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿708.9K
$29.4K BAM 51.3K
-28.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿894.6K
$20.8K BAM 36.3K
27.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,111
$134 BAM 234
-53.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿392
$17.57 BAM 30.72
-33.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿685
$25.77 BAM 45.05
-21.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,278
$34.38 BAM 60.1
10.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿125
$12.66 BAM 22.12
-70.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿220
$6.90 BAM 12.06
-5.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.5K
$195 BAM 342
271.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿559.2K
$2,270 BAM 3,969
630.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,807
$57.3 BAM 100
-6.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿837
$33.14 BAM 57.9
-25.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,050
$84.4 BAM 147
7.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,428
$82.5 BAM 144
-12.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$319 BAM 557
50.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.5K
$225 BAM 394
37.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.7K
$511 BAM 893
107.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.2K
$349 BAM 609
88.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.6K
$2,327 BAM 4,068
3.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.3K
$1,633 BAM 2,855
-1.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bugojno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.1K
$610 BAM 1,066
-2.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.33
28.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bugojno: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Bugojno
$225 27.3% $85
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Bugojno
$187 20.9% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Bugojno
$116 6.9% $7.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Bugojno
$177 87.6% $83
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Bugojno
$111 44.6% $34
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Bugojno
$8.7 * 85.2% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Bugojno
$48 5.3% $2.7

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $319 in Bugojno. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $31 in Bugojno. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $187 in Bugojno – so Bugojno wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇦 Bugojno
🕒 Local time
06:48 6:48 AM
00:48 12:48 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
15,555
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BAM (1 BAM = 0.572 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Bugojno 7,900 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Bugojno

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bugojno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Bugojno?
Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Bugojno, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Bugojno?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,309 in Bugojno. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Bugojno?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bugojno, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $319 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Bugojno?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $873 in Bugojno. That makes Bugojno about 7% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Bugojno?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $195 in Bugojno. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Bugojno?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $873 in Bugojno. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Bugojno – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Bugojno?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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