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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,428 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,913 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Istočno Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Istočno Sarajevo 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.05 BAM 12.07

-72.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$34.79 BAM 59.6

-47.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.50 BAM 9.42

36.00%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.81 BAM 3.10

11.60%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.07 BAM 3.55

-58.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.41 BAM 2.42

-74.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.32 BAM 3.97

-7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.11 BAM 3.61

70.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.41 BAM 2.41

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.35 BAM 2.31

16.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.16 BAM 3.69

-44.91%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.17 BAM 5.43

-38.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.16 BAM 17.41

59.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$8.31 BAM 14.24

-64.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.11 BAM 22.45

-16.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.48 BAM 2.54

83.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.63 BAM 2.78

-28.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.79 BAM 3.07

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.73 BAM 2.96

-7.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.09 BAM 1.86

26.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.16 BAM 1.98

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.93 BAM 1.59

-27.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.00 BAM 1.71

-44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.75 BAM 6.42

23.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.94 BAM 13.60

121.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.08 BAM 1.86

72.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.33 BAM 2.27

148.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.84 BAM 3.15

-52.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$35.82 BAM 61.4

-46.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.49 BAM 2.56

-8.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.76 BAM 1.31

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$10.56 BAM 18.09

-22.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.57 BAM 2.70

-22.29%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.6K BAM 40.5K

-9.61%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.5K BAM 43.7K

-11.71%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$123 BAM 210

-42.31%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$18.78 BAM 32.17

-25.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$28.36 BAM 48.58

-38.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$28.91 BAM 49.51

45.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$10.81 BAM 18.51

-36.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.63 BAM 9.64

5.15%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 BAM 265

99.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,321 BAM 5,688

347.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$92.0 BAM 158

-39.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$34.81 BAM 59.6

-24.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$98.2 BAM 168

-15.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$103 BAM 177

-31.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$221 BAM 378

95.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$194 BAM 332

23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$265 BAM 454

210.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$220 BAM 377

132.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,767 BAM 3,026

8.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,375 BAM 2,354

6.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$734 BAM 1,256

-21.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

31.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $221 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 27% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Istočno Sarajevo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $238 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 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,415 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Istočno Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Istočno Sarajevo – 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $943 in Istočno Sarajevo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $943 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.