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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $417 in Dhaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $707 in Dhaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $997 in Dhaka, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Dhaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dhaka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.40 ৳295

-19.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$12.97 ৳1,591

43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.88 ৳599

60.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ৳489

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳614

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.27 ৳278

-14.10%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.32 ৳38.76

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.15 ৳17.91

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.83 ৳101

106.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.71 ৳86.5

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.65 ৳80.3

75.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.29 ৳158

49.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.74 ৳827

140.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.45 ৳423

-9.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.66 ৳817

63.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.74 ৳336

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.14 ৳140

6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.67 ৳327

-39.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.91 ৳111

74.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.44 ৳53.7

218.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.79 ৳96.6

48.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.35 ৳43.42

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.30 ৳37.07

76.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.06 ৳1,480

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 ৳850

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.03 ৳372

54.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.39 ৳48.34

130.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$24.89 ৳3,054

-22.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.22 ৳149

15.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.43 ৳52.7

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.06 ৳375

156.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.04 ৳127

22.12%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$28.9K ৳3.5M

-26.32%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-22.18%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$32.66 ৳4,006

111.48%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.75 ৳583

196.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.98 ৳1,593

38.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$19.31 ৳2,369

112.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.78 ৳1,813

-52.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.11 ৳504

44.04%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$46.92 ৳5,756

537.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,979 ৳242.8K

655.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$18.61 ৳2,283

193.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$24.19 ৳2,967

10.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$46.70 ৳5,728

81.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$36.80 ৳4,514

91.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$117 ৳14.3K

266.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$63.5 ৳7,785

274.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$316 ৳38.8K

153.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$184 ৳22.5K

180.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,493 ৳183.2K

32.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$659 ৳80.8K

123.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$286 ৳35.1K

116.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

-52.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $117 in Dhaka. 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 116% 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 $13.00 in Dhaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $124 – making Dhaka 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 Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Dhaka, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $625 in Dhaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhaka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.92 in Dhaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 98% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $417 in Dhaka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhaka costs $417 versus $866 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 Dhaka. 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.