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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $258 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $371 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $485 in Bungoma.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 237% more expensive than Bungoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bungoma 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.50 KES 195

47.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.73 KES 224

111.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.98 KES 127

68.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 KES 66.3

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.33 KES 173

-10.53%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.35 KES 175

48.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$3.81 KES 493

185.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.12 KES 404

-11.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.13 KES 147

-50.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.53 KES 198

19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.73 KES 224

84.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.51 KES 196

-11.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.78 KES 102

905.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.35 KES 175

-8.89%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$29.02 KES 3,762

-39.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$19.46 KES 2,523

-64.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.97 KES 515

45.34%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$62.0 KES 8,044

394.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$11.57 KES 1,500

382.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$39.32 KES 5,099

118.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$19.12 KES 2,480

277.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$118 KES 15.3K

264.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$93.2 KES 12.1K

155.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$272 KES 35.2K

200.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$148 KES 19.2K

244.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $118 in Bungoma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Bungoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 237% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $387 in Bungoma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $118 in Bungoma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 211% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $307 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Bungoma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bungoma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Bungoma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bungoma 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 Bungoma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 237% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.