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: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $253 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $373 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $493 in Bungoma.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bungoma 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.58 KES 204

35.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.75 KES 226

109.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.04 KES 134

66.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.51 KES 66.3

207.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.29 KES 166

-6.98%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.31 KES 169

50.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.80 KES 491

184.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.00 KES 388

-7.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.13 KES 146

-53.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.59 KES 205

12.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.66 KES 215

101.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.53 KES 197

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$0.79 KES 103

926.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.36 KES 176

-9.56%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$28.98 KES 3,746

-38.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$19.59 KES 2,532

-64.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.89 KES 502

47.04%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$61.3 KES 7,925

402.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$11.53 KES 1,490

383.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$38.77 KES 5,010

118.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$19.44 KES 2,512

265.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$117 KES 15.1K

263.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$94.5 KES 12.2K

156.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$275 KES 35.6K

189.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$148 KES 19.1K

243.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $117 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 $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $380 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: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $117 in Bungoma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 217% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $61.3 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.