😐A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $618 in Kobryn, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,059 in Kobryn, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,501 in Kobryn, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Kobryn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kobryn are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Kobryn55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿68.6
$9.53BYN 29.16
-78.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿646
$49.19BYN 151
-60.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿186
$7.31BYN 22.37
-22.71%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.4
$2.36BYN 7.21
-23.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.46
$0.98BYN 2.99
-27.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.39
$0.60BYN 1.83
-46.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿73.6
$1.44BYN 4.41
55.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿120
$2.56BYN 7.84
41.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿64.4
$0.86BYN 2.63
127.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.42
$0.66BYN 2.02
127.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿43.96
$1.27BYN 3.87
5.51%
Eggs
$2.26฿74.5
$1.60BYN 4.90
41.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿535
$7.66BYN 23.44
112.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿97.2
$5.13BYN 15.70
-42.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿327
$10.98BYN 33.59
-9.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿84.6
$1.64BYN 5.01
56.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿34.75
$1.74BYN 5.32
-39.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$2.18BYN 6.68
-26.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.0
$2.82BYN 8.62
-46.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿41.80
$0.67BYN 2.06
89.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.09
$0.72BYN 2.21
48.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.70
$1.64BYN 5.02
-56.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.73
$0.66BYN 2.02
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿138
$2.57BYN 7.85
63.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿588
$8.22BYN 25.15
117.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿55.7
$0.99BYN 3.04
70.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿93.3
$1.92BYN 5.86
47.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.45
$0.35BYN 1.07
165.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,772
$12.25BYN 37.47
339.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.61
$1.62BYN 4.94
-24.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿18.97
$0.47BYN 1.43
23.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿79.8
$9.76BYN 29.86
-75.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.46
$0.85BYN 2.61
65.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿705.5K
$23.9KBYN 73.1K
-10.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿899.3K
$22.3KBYN 68.2K
22.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,095
$59.3BYN 181
7.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿423
$8.37BYN 25.60
53.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿665
$12.98BYN 39.73
55.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,275
$41.13BYN 126
-5.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿222
$5.72BYN 17.49
17.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.6K
$368BYN 1,126
111.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿480.7K
$24.0KBYN 73.3K
-39.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,786
$52.7BYN 161
3.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿837
$43.67BYN 134
-41.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,104
$107BYN 326
-11.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,416
$109BYN 332
-32.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.1K
$324BYN 992
51.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,518
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.4K
$631BYN 1,930
41.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.3K
$1,121BYN 3,431
74.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿48.6K
$912BYN 2,792
61.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kobryn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
15.92
-65.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kobryn: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $324 in Kobryn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Kobryn. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $193 in Kobryn – so Kobryn 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 Kobryn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kobryn?
Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Kobryn, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Kobryn?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $926 in Kobryn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kobryn?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kobryn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Kobryn?
Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $368 in Kobryn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Kobryn?
Groceries cost about 25% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Kobryn?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kobryn, where all-in costs run around $618, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kobryn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kobryn?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kobryn costs $618 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kobryn?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Kobryn?
If budget matters most, go with Kobryn. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared