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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $302 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $515 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $727 in Cox's Bazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 187% 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 35% lower, Cox's Bazar 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.62 ৳199

22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$12.15 ৳1,488

54.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.16 ৳388

145.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 ৳721

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 ৳307

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.61 ৳198

19.25%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.36 ৳44.06

119.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.12 ৳14.29

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.72 ৳88.7

129.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.48 ৳58.6

239.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.45 ৳54.8

164.44%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.05 ৳128

90.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.29 ৳1,138

72.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$1.61 ৳197

88.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.78 ৳831

60.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.25 ৳275

22.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.96 ৳118

22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.70 ৳208

-3.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.34 ৳42.21

347.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.16 ৳19.94

762.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.39 ৳47.71

205.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.40 ৳49.55

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.27 ৳33.32

107.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$6.20 ৳760

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ৳310

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 ৳421

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.96 ৳240

133.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.20 ৳24.50

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.19 ৳1,249

83.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.28 ৳34.12

385.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.39 ৳47.54

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.49 ৳305

214.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.06 ৳130

16.04%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$33.3K ৳4.1M

-35.00%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$33.8K ৳4.1M

-33.24%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$12.10 ৳1,483

482.98%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$2.63 ৳322

420.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$11.54 ৳1,414

51.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$16.73 ৳2,050

147.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.63 ৳1,425

-40.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.34 ৳287

146.58%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$24.63 ৳3,018

1146.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,360 ৳166.7K

973.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$20.65 ৳2,530

170.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$18.23 ৳2,234

43.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$32.91 ৳4,033

160.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$33.61 ৳4,119

114.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$69.2 ৳8,473

521.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$41.96 ৳5,141

468.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$311 ৳38.1K

163.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$97.3 ৳11.9K

424.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$763 ৳93.6K

159.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$266 ৳32.7K

456.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$288 ৳35.2K

115.17%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cox's Bazar: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $69.2 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 115% 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: $241 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 187% 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 $1,303 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $24.63 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 128% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $302 in Cox's Bazar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cox's Bazar costs $302 versus $869 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.