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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Gracanica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,463 in Gracanica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,993 in Gracanica, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Gracanica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Gracanica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gracanica 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.89 BAM 11.58

-71.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$34.95 BAM 58.7

-46.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.50 BAM 9.23

42.18%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.68 BAM 2.83

16.07%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.84 BAM 3.09

-53.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.19 BAM 2.00

-70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.42 BAM 4.07

-11.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.09 BAM 3.51

78.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.41 BAM 2.37

21.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.33 BAM 2.23

22.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.38 BAM 4.00

-52.10%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.89 BAM 4.85

-33.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.25 BAM 17.22

58.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.23 BAM 12.15

-56.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.50 BAM 22.68

-19.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.24 BAM 2.09

121.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.66 BAM 2.80

-27.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.93 BAM 3.24

-16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.72 BAM 2.89

-7.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.80 BAM 1.34

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.74 BAM 1.24

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 BAM 1.54

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.02 BAM 1.71

-48.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.51 BAM 5.89

33.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.17 BAM 13.73

128.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.26 BAM 2.11

42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.07 BAM 3.47

56.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.79 BAM 3.01

-49.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.51 BAM 59.7

-45.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.81 BAM 3.03

-22.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.78 BAM 1.31

65.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.78 BAM 18.11

-27.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.50 BAM 2.52

-15.33%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

-11.06%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.8K BAM 45.0K

-17.10%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$124 BAM 208

-44.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.84 BAM 31.66

-25.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$28.45 BAM 47.79

-36.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$28.92 BAM 48.59

41.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.03 BAM 18.53

-36.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.71 BAM 9.60

3.68%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$151 BAM 253

98.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,279 BAM 5,510

355.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$71.2 BAM 120

-23.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$35.37 BAM 59.4

-24.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$97.3 BAM 163

-12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$119 BAM 200

-40.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$260 BAM 437

64.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$171 BAM 287

38.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$357 BAM 600

124.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$314 BAM 527

64.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,754 BAM 4,627

-28.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,004 BAM 3,367

-26.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$600 BAM 1,008

2.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

20.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gracanica: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $260 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 3% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Gracanica. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $235 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 8% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,401 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $151 in Gracanica. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Gracanica – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $934 in Gracanica, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $934 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.