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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,102 in Burrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,658 in Burrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,214 in Burrel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Burrel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Burrel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Burrel 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.45 ALL 771

-79.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$36.65 ALL 2,993

-48.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.08 ALL 578

11.86%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.96 ALL 160

-2.55%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.66 ALL 135

-49.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.80 ALL 65.6

-56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.31 ALL 189

-4.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.21 ALL 262

18.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.05 ALL 168

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.92 ALL 75.2

76.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.02 ALL 165

-41.58%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.04 ALL 248

-33.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.04 ALL 820

58.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.95 ALL 649

-62.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.49 ALL 1,101

-20.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.86 ALL 152

40.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.44 ALL 199

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.69 ALL 138

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.34 ALL 110

17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.00 ALL 81.8

32.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.18 ALL 96.1

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.10 ALL 90.2

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.73 ALL 59.4

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.12 ALL 336

9.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.99 ALL 816

82.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.69 ALL 138

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.75 ALL 143

84.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.49 ALL 40.26

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.50 ALL 1,510

4.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.44 ALL 281

-60.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.10 ALL 253

-56.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.49 ALL 1,428

-52.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.19 ALL 178

-42.01%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$35.1K ALL 2.9M

-39.73%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.8K ALL 2.1M

-12.69%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$66.5 ALL 5,430

5.49%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.64 ALL 1,441

-21.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$15.78 ALL 1,288

11.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$54.1 ALL 4,419

-23.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$25.09 ALL 2,048

-73.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$8.03 ALL 656

-28.02%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$92.3 ALL 7,540

231.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$47.36 ALL 3,867

14.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$52.3 ALL 4,272

-50.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$92.4 ALL 7,545

-8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$144 ALL 11.7K

-51.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$444 ALL 36.3K

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$347 ALL 28.3K

-31.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$609 ALL 49.7K

35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$440 ALL 35.9K

17.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,832 ALL 149.6K

11.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,223 ALL 99.9K

24.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Burrel: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $444 in Burrel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Burrel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $248 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Burrel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burrel costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,653 in Burrel. 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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.3 in Burrel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Burrel, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Burrel at $1,102. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burrel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,102 in Burrel. 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, Burrel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.