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: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $145 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $293 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $441 in Bungoma.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 542% more expensive than in Bungoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bungoma 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$5.40 KES 699

-66.48%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.57 KES 203

40.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.73 KES 224

119.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.23 KES 159

83.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.02 KES 391

-11.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.91 KES 117

19.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.56 KES 201

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.74 KES 225

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.38 KES 178

5.07%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

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

$12.89 ฿429

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$29.21 KES 3,780

-29.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

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

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$170 KES 21.9K

207.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: September 13, 2026

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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 542% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $218 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 556% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $145 in Bungoma – a 542% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $145 in Bungoma versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bungoma but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Bungoma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 542% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.