🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $968 in Burgersfort.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,509 in Burgersfort.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $2,050 in Burgersfort.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 12% less than in Burgersfort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai36% lower, Burgersfort28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$8.37R 140
-76.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$33.84R 568
-44.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$4.68R 78.5
69.23%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.94R 32.59
-1.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.86R 14.41
-2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.53R 8.95
-33.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.26R 37.92
-2.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$1.73R 28.98
119.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.03R 17.24
59.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.92R 15.48
76.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.62R 27.11
-27.16%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$2.45R 41.15
-17.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$3.46R 58.0
359.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$2.46R 41.28
22.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$6.48R 109
66.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.65R 27.60
58.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.60R 26.89
-23.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.58R 26.55
7.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$1.70R 28.52
-7.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.85R 14.30
55.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.22R 20.40
-4.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$1.09R 18.31
-38.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$1.03R 17.26
-45.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$2.84R 47.63
59.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$1.24R 20.88
1367.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.04R 17.36
75.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.84R 30.79
75.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$1.60R 26.85
-44.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$41.28R 692
-53.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.85R 14.29
58.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$1.37R 22.92
-1.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$3.15R 52.9
161.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.24R 20.77
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$19.0KR 318.5K
11.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$25.6KR 430.0K
-12.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$125R 2,096
-43.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$37.54R 629
-63.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$37.85R 635
-53.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$30.58R 513
35.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$7.50R 126
-22.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$33.55R 563
812.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,371R 73.3K
239.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$38.47R 645
41.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$16.29R 273
60.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$44.10R 740
91.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$68.5R 1,148
1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$359R 6,028
17.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$328R 5,499
-27.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$673R 11.3K
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$701R 11.8K
-26.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$705R 11.8K
190.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$684R 11.5K
122.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Burgersfort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$1,064R 17.8K
-40.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.69
-57.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Burgersfort: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $359 in Burgersfort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Burgersfort pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $34.00 in Burgersfort. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $144, with Burgersfort cheaper for home cooking.
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 Burgersfort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and Burgersfort?
Chiang Mai and Burgersfort differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $968 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Burgersfort earns 67% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and Burgersfort?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $359 in Burgersfort. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Burgersfort?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $968 in Burgersfort – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and Burgersfort?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 113% less than in Burgersfort. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $800 go in Chiang Mai vs Burgersfort?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Burgersfort?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chiang Mai or Burgersfort safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Burgersfort are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Mai or Burgersfort?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Burgersfort. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared