Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cox's Bazar Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cox's Bazar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $296 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $512 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 188% more than Cox's Bazar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cox's Bazar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Cox's Bazar 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$1.59 ৳197

28.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$12.43 ৳1,535

50.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$3.02 ৳373

160.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 ৳712

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ৳300

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.66 ৳205

22.29%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.38 ৳47.53

110.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.13 ৳16.06

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.73 ৳89.8

136.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.47 ৳58.0

234.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.48 ৳59.7

150.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.01 ৳125

95.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$8.89 ৳1,097

82.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$1.69 ৳208

81.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$7.03 ৳868

53.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.29 ৳283

20.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.96 ৳119

21.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.62 ৳200

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.34 ৳42.44

367.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.20 ৳24.40

595.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.38 ৳47.33

205.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.41 ৳50.5

60.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.25 ৳30.80

108.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.74 ৳956

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ৳311

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ৳419

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.89 ৳233

146.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.22 ৳27.18

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$10.19 ৳1,259

82.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.30 ৳37.13

370.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.36 ৳43.98

272.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$2.50 ৳309

224.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.06 ৳130

16.04%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$32.6K ৳4.0M

-34.18%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$34.3K ৳4.2M

-36.32%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$12.45 ৳1,537

472.93%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$2.59 ৳320

440.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$11.58 ৳1,430

54.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$16.15 ৳1,994

152.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.93 ৳1,473

-42.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.42 ৳299

136.36%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$25.10 ৳3,099

1128.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$1,356 ৳167.5K

982.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$20.51 ৳2,532

171.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$18.26 ৳2,254

42.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$32.61 ৳4,026

160.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$33.22 ৳4,102

113.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$68.9 ৳8,504

514.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$41.82 ৳5,164

479.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$311 ৳38.4K

156.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$98.3 ৳12.1K

415.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$354 ৳43.7K

442.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$264 ৳32.6K

454.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$287 ৳35.4K

107.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.67

-57.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cox's Bazar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $68.9 in Cox's Bazar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 107% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Cox's Bazar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $106 – making Cox's Bazar 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 Cox's Bazar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 188% more than Cox's Bazar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $443 in Cox's Bazar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cox's Bazar, 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 $25.10 in Cox's Bazar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $296 in Cox's Bazar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cox's Bazar costs $296 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Cox's Bazar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.