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 $1,085 in Burrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,635 in Burrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,185 in Burrel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$9.35 ALL 760

-78.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$37.00 ALL 3,006

-49.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.04 ALL 572

11.65%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.87 ALL 152

8.56%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.56 ALL 127

-48.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.86 ALL 70.1

-59.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.30 ALL 187

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.33 ALL 270

10.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.06 ALL 167

-16.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.91 ALL 73.9

72.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.95 ALL 158

-38.46%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.00 ALL 244

-34.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.15 ALL 825

59.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.92 ALL 644

-61.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$13.37 ALL 1,086

-19.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.82 ALL 148

52.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.35 ALL 191

-50.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.65 ALL 134

3.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.38 ALL 112

15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.05 ALL 85.5

32.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.18 ALL 95.8

-1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.15 ALL 93.5

-42.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.78 ALL 63.2

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.96 ALL 322

17.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.87 ALL 802

80.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.66 ALL 135

7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.73 ALL 141

93.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.46 ALL 37.32

97.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.10 ALL 1,552

-2.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.56 ALL 289

-60.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.05 ALL 248

-56.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$17.79 ALL 1,446

-54.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.13 ALL 173

-42.25%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$34.2K ALL 2.8M

-37.31%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$25.9K ALL 2.1M

-15.62%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$67.2 ALL 5,459

6.16%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.15 ALL 1,394

-18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$15.72 ALL 1,277

14.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$56.1 ALL 4,556

-27.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.20 ALL 2,048

-72.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$8.21 ALL 667

-30.33%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$94.7 ALL 7,696

225.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$48.00 ALL 3,900

16.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$53.1 ALL 4,310

-50.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$95.5 ALL 7,757

-11.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$142 ALL 11.5K

-49.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$445 ALL 36.2K

-4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$349 ALL 28.3K

-30.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$614 ALL 49.9K

29.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$432 ALL 35.1K

17.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,804 ALL 146.6K

6.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,212 ALL 98.5K

20.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Burrel: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $445 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: $244 vs $247 – 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 27% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,627 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.7 in Burrel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $1,085. 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 $1,085 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.