Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Istočno Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Istočno Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $968 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,431 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,894 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Istočno Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Istočno Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Istočno Sarajevo 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$8.74 BAM 14.67

-75.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$38.25 BAM 64.2

-48.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-16.33%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.80 BAM 3.02

1.67%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$2.13 BAM 3.57

-63.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$1.46 BAM 2.45

-78.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.31 BAM 3.87

1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.39 BAM 4.01

54.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.50 BAM 2.52

35.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.41 BAM 2.37

13.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$2.27 BAM 3.82

-37.44%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$3.24 BAM 5.44

-32.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$10.18 BAM 17.10

56.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$7.62 BAM 12.79

-59.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$13.47 BAM 22.62

-26.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.51 BAM 2.53

74.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.76 BAM 2.95

-37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$1.74 BAM 2.92

-6.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-12.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.05 BAM 1.76

18.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.20 BAM 2.01

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$0.94 BAM 1.59

-21.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.97 BAM 1.63

-48.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.08 BAM 6.85

4.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$8.17 BAM 13.72

119.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$0.97 BAM 1.62

75.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$1.55 BAM 2.60

87.10%

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

$1.51 BAM 2.54

-18.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.10 BAM 1.85

-51.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$10.53 BAM 17.68

-77.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.59 BAM 2.66

-9.43%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$30.6K BAM 51.4K

-30.75%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

21.90%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$125 BAM 209

-47.91%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$19.02 BAM 31.94

-29.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$28.31 BAM 47.55

-26.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$33.64 BAM 56.5

20.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$14.33 BAM 24.07

-72.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$5.49 BAM 9.22

22.22%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$155 BAM 260

408.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$4,013 BAM 6,740

276.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$90.1 BAM 151

-37.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$35.37 BAM 59.4

-29.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$92.1 BAM 155

0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$105 BAM 176

-28.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$218 BAM 367

121.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$195 BAM 328

46.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$271 BAM 455

236.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$221 BAM 371

140.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

$1,798 BAM 3,020

10.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

$1,408 BAM 2,364

3.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$735 BAM 1,235

-17.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.08

36.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $218 in Istočno Sarajevo. 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 21% higher in Istočno Sarajevo, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Istočno Sarajevo. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $239 in Istočno Sarajevo – so Istočno Sarajevo 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 Istočno Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Istočno Sarajevo costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,452 in Istočno Sarajevo. 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 $38.00 in Istočno Sarajevo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Istočno Sarajevo – 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 Istočno Sarajevo at $968. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istočno Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $968 in Istočno Sarajevo. 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, Istočno Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.