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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $509 in Bushehr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $785 in Bushehr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,061 in Bushehr.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 68% more expensive than in Bushehr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bushehr 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$6.09 $6.09

-66.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$13.88 $13.88

34.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.46 $3.46

127.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$0.98 $0.98

107.14%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.43 $0.43

86.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.20 $1.20

-70.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.49 $0.49

253.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.31 $0.31

406.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.58 $1.58

-24.05%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.01 $1.01

95.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$1.48 $1.48

996.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.97 $2.97

3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$9.93 $9.93

8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.58 $0.58

377.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.54 $1.54

-24.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.97 $0.97

76.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.49 $0.49

224.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.52 $0.52

167.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.29 $0.29

300.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.71 $0.71

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.26 $0.26

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 $0.29

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.31 $2.31

101.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.20 $0.20

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$9.87 $9.87

88.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.31 $0.31

354.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.27 $0.27

396.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.75 $1.75

363.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.74 $0.74

66.22%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$60.5K $60.5K

-64.55%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$47.7K $47.7K

-54.24%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$19.71 $19.71

261.90%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$1.95 $1.95

618.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$5.88 $5.88

204.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$15.73 $15.73

159.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$12.33 $12.33

-44.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.03 $2.03

181.77%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$49.12 $49.12

527.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$597 $597

2357.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$23.59 $23.59

136.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$20.26 $20.26

28.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$71.8 $71.8

18.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$40.73 $40.73

74.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$290 $290

45.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$203 $203

19.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$327 $327

144.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$323 $323

56.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,123 $1,123

70.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$569 $569

157.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$284 $284

109.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.95

-76.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bushehr: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $290 in Bushehr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 110% 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 $14.00 in Bushehr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $94.0 per month, with Bushehr cheaper across the board.

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 Bushehr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bushehr wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bushehr the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 110% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $290 in Bushehr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bushehr runs roughly 89% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $49.12 in Bushehr. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bushehr gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bushehr delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $509 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bushehr hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bushehr are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bushehr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.