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 $303 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $516 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $729 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 182% 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 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.61 ৳197

21.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$12.33 ৳1,513

52.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.00 ৳368

164.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 ৳709

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ৳298

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.60 ৳196

19.37%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.36 ৳44.14

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.12 ৳15.08

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.79 ৳96.8

107.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.50 ৳61.5

224.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.48 ৳59.4

145.83%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.05 ৳129

91.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.87 ৳1,089

79.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$1.62 ৳198

85.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.97 ৳856

54.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.27 ৳279

14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.00 ৳122

22.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.63 ৳200

4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.31 ৳38.61

409.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.17 ৳20.52

676.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.39 ৳47.49

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.40 ৳49.31

67.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.27 ৳33.32

107.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$6.44 ৳791

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ৳308

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ৳413

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.89 ৳232

139.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.20 ৳24.49

345.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$10.17 ৳1,248

90.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.28 ৳34.11

382.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.36 ৳43.80

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.51 ৳308

228.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.04 ৳128

22.12%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.7K ৳4.0M

-35.29%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$33.8K ৳4.1M

-33.48%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$12.14 ৳1,491

477.84%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.64 ৳325

421.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$11.27 ৳1,384

56.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.16 ৳1,984

157.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.71 ৳1,438

-43.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.39 ৳294

141.84%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$24.31 ৳2,984

1159.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,376 ৳168.9K

977.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$20.19 ৳2,479

169.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$18.10 ৳2,222

44.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$33.00 ৳4,051

156.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$34.09 ৳4,185

103.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$68.6 ৳8,420

517.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$41.65 ৳5,113

471.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$305 ৳37.4K

170.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$97.6 ৳12.0K

427.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$602 ৳74.0K

240.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$392 ৳48.1K

288.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$288 ৳35.4K

120.53%

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: April 27, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $68.6 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 121% 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: $243 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 182% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $454 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $24.31 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 129% 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 $303 in Cox's Bazar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cox's Bazar costs $303 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.