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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,042 in Gracanica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,559 in Gracanica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,076 in Gracanica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Gracanica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Gracanica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gracanica 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$7.19 BAM 12.08

-70.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$39.16 BAM 65.8

-49.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-16.33%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.74 BAM 2.92

5.17%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$1.92 BAM 3.22

-59.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$1.24 BAM 2.08

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.39 BAM 4.01

-2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.31 BAM 3.88

60.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.49 BAM 2.51

36.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.47 BAM 2.46

8.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$2.39 BAM 4.01

-40.59%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$2.95 BAM 4.95

-26.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$9.87 BAM 16.58

61.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$7.38 BAM 12.39

-58.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$13.29 BAM 22.32

-25.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.25 BAM 2.10

110.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.88 BAM 3.16

-41.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$1.89 BAM 3.17

-13.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-12.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$0.79 BAM 1.33

56.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$0.74 BAM 1.24

52.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$0.95 BAM 1.59

-22.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$1.01 BAM 1.69

-50.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.15 BAM 6.96

3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$8.34 BAM 14.00

115.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$1.37 BAM 2.30

24.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$2.32 BAM 3.90

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$1.31 BAM 2.20

-28.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$1.80 BAM 3.02

-31.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.01 BAM 1.70

-47.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$10.57 BAM 17.76

-77.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-2.04%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$31.4K BAM 52.7K

-32.52%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

22.09%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$126 BAM 211

-48.29%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$18.83 BAM 31.62

-29.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$28.69 BAM 48.18

-27.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$33.62 BAM 56.5

20.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$5.47 BAM 9.19

22.67%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$153 BAM 258

413.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$3,949 BAM 6,632

282.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$117 BAM 197

-52.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$35.66 BAM 59.9

-30.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$101 BAM 169

-7.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$121 BAM 203

-37.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$351 BAM 590

37.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$264 BAM 443

8.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$529 BAM 889

71.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$373 BAM 627

42.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

$2,531 BAM 4,250

-21.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

$1,793 BAM 3,012

-19.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$599 BAM 1,006

1.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.3

29.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gracanica: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $351 in Gracanica. 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 1% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Gracanica. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $239 in Gracanica – so Gracanica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gracanica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gracanica costs about 10% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,563 in Gracanica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Gracanica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Gracanica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Gracanica at $1,042. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gracanica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,042 in Gracanica. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gracanica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.