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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,105 in Burrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,648 in Burrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,192 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 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$9.59 ALL 787

-79.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$36.99 ALL 3,035

-50.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$7.25 ALL 595

8.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.95 ALL 160

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.65 ALL 135

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.80 ALL 65.8

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.31 ALL 189

-7.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$3.30 ALL 271

11.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.05 ALL 169

-19.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$0.93 ALL 76.4

67.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$2.02 ALL 166

-41.09%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$2.90 ALL 238

-31.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$9.93 ALL 815

63.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$7.66 ALL 628

-58.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$13.48 ALL 1,106

-19.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$1.80 ALL 148

47.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$2.47 ALL 203

-50.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$1.75 ALL 143

-5.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$1.40 ALL 115

10.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.01 ALL 82.7

31.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$1.24 ALL 102

-2.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$1.09 ALL 89.6

-37.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.79 ALL 64.5

-27.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$4.08 ALL 334

14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$9.99 ALL 820

70.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.70 ALL 139

7.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$1.82 ALL 149

74.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.48 ALL 39.60

89.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

$18.80 ALL 1,543

-0.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$3.60 ALL 295

-60.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$3.22 ALL 265

-58.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$17.41 ALL 1,429

-53.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$2.20 ALL 180

-41.82%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$35.2K ALL 2.9M

-37.91%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

-10.22%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$68.5 ALL 5,621

2.88%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$17.26 ALL 1,417

-18.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$16.00 ALL 1,312

10.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

$56.0 ALL 4,594

-26.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

$24.85 ALL 2,039

-72.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$8.03 ALL 659

-25.78%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$94.7 ALL 7,767

220.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$46.72 ALL 3,833

17.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$52.3 ALL 4,289

-49.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$94.0 ALL 7,713

-8.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$141 ALL 11.5K

-50.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$458 ALL 37.6K

-6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

$346 ALL 28.4K

-31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

$615 ALL 50.4K

31.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

$427 ALL 35.0K

19.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

$1,939 ALL 159.1K

4.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

$1,307 ALL 107.2K

14.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Burrel: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $458 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Burrel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 30% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,658 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 $303 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 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 $848, than in Burrel at $1,105. 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 $848 versus $1,105 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.