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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $940 in Bugojno, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,346 in Bugojno, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,751 in Bugojno, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Bugojno, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Bugojno are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bugojno 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.22 BAM 8.89

-60.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$29.13 BAM 49.58

-32.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.83 BAM 9.92

-2.74%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.97 BAM 3.36

-8.12%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.80 BAM 3.07

-57.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.27 BAM 2.16

-72.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.71 BAM 4.62

-18.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.15 BAM 3.65

76.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.19 BAM 2.02

72.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.99 BAM 1.69

52.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.07 BAM 3.53

-32.37%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.62 BAM 4.47

-13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.15 BAM 13.87

98.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$7.32 BAM 12.46

-60.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.93 BAM 18.60

-13.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.18 BAM 2.01

127.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.72 BAM 2.93

-36.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.47 BAM 2.50

10.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.21 BAM 2.07

20.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.02 BAM 1.74

25.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.06 BAM 1.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.75 BAM 1.28

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.74 BAM 1.26

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.98 BAM 6.77

6.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$4.09 BAM 6.96

347.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.78 BAM 1.32

108.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$0.98 BAM 1.67

195.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$1.23 BAM 2.10

-28.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.93 BAM 1.59

25.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.58 BAM 0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.80 BAM 9.86

-58.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.64 BAM 2.79

-11.59%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.7K BAM 54.0K

-33.78%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$22.0K BAM 37.4K

20.15%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$136 BAM 231

-53.21%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$18.06 BAM 30.74

-28.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$27.35 BAM 46.54

-24.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$34.23 BAM 58.2

13.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.96 BAM 10.15

10.40%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$204 BAM 348

283.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$2,345 BAM 3,991

525.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$59.3 BAM 101

-7.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$34.62 BAM 58.9

-28.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$89.7 BAM 153

4.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$84.3 BAM 144

-12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$385 BAM 655

27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$262 BAM 445

10.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$483 BAM 821

84.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$397 BAM 675

31.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,488 BAM 4,234

-20.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,810 BAM 3,081

-20.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$631 BAM 1,074

-4.64%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bugojno: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $385 in Bugojno. 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 5% higher in Bugojno, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Bugojno. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $194 in Bugojno – so Bugojno 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 Bugojno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bugojno costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,411 in Bugojno. 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $940 in Bugojno. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $204 in Bugojno. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Bugojno at $940. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bugojno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $940 in Bugojno. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Bugojno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.