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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,152 in Burrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,722 in Burrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,292 in Burrel, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Burrel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Burrel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Burrel 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.24 ALL 809

-79.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$40.36 ALL 3,189

-51.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.70 ALL 609

-26.36%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.98 ALL 156

-8.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.97 ALL 156

-60.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.70 ALL 55.5

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.47 ALL 195

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.42 ALL 270

10.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.08 ALL 165

-1.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.94 ALL 74.1

60.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.17 ALL 171

-35.48%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.68 ALL 211

-15.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.59 ALL 837

52.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$8.76 ALL 692

-66.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.29 ALL 1,129

-34.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.04 ALL 161

31.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.36 ALL 187

-53.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.73 ALL 137

-6.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.66 ALL 131

-12.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.12 ALL 88.3

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.31 ALL 103

-19.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.18 ALL 93.4

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.79 ALL 62.8

-32.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.30 ALL 340

-1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$9.99 ALL 789

83.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.83 ALL 145

-10.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.90 ALL 150

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.57 ALL 45.23

54.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$21.87 ALL 1,727

145.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$3.81 ALL 301

-69.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$3.87 ALL 306

-85.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$19.14 ALL 1,512

-87.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$2.18 ALL 173

-33.49%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$35.1K ALL 2.8M

-40.08%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$25.4K ALL 2.0M

4.04%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$62.9 ALL 4,965

1.27%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$16.85 ALL 1,331

-23.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.36 ALL 976

66.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$61.0 ALL 4,820

-36.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.75 ALL 692

-24.80%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$99.4 ALL 7,849

689.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$51.2 ALL 4,048

7.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$57.5 ALL 4,538

-56.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$101 ALL 7,995

-7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$151 ALL 12.0K

-51.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$493 ALL 39.0K

-0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$339 ALL 26.8K

-15.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$725 ALL 57.3K

22.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$480 ALL 37.9K

8.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,898 ALL 149.9K

3.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,281 ALL 101.2K

12.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Burrel: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $493 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Burrel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $261 – 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 24% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,728 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.4 in Burrel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $932, than in Burrel at $1,152. 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 $932 versus $1,152 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.