Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,657 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,452 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,247 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 48% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.67 BND 4.73

-46.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$46.09 BND 59.5

-60.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.89 BND 10.18

-5.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.62 BND 5.96

-56.28%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.97 BND 1.25

-12.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.61 BND 0.79

-40.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.53 BND 3.26

-34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.53 BND 3.27

-37.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.28 BND 2.95

-47.81%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.58 BND 3.32

-24.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$19.15 BND 24.72

-15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$9.77 BND 12.61

-69.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$24.73 BND 31.92

-55.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.50 BND 5.81

-39.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.53 BND 3.27

-53.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$3.19 BND 4.11

-47.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.78 BND 3.59

-42.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.65 BND 2.13

-16.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.23 BND 2.88

-46.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$5.55 BND 7.16

-87.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.76 BND 0.98

-26.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$8.01 BND 10.33

-42.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$4.72 BND 6.09

-71.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$11.62 BND 15.00

-29.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.36 BND 0.46

238.89%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$22.9K BND 29.6K

-6.85%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$27.1K BND 34.9K

-16.78%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$38.63 BND 49.85

82.94%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$21.89 BND 28.25

-35.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$64.4 BND 83.1

-72.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$97.6 BND 126

-56.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.79 BND 28.12

-68.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.57 BND 7.19

6.28%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$155 BND 200

98.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,500 BND 12.3K

56.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$98.4 BND 127

-43.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$103 BND 133

-74.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$121 BND 157

-31.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$63.5 BND 82.0

10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$742 BND 957

-41.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$794 BND 1,025

-69.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,178 BND 1,520

-30.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,167 BND 1,507

-56.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,320 BND 4,284

-82.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

23.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $742 in Kuala Belait. 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 473% higher in Kuala Belait, 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 $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $356 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Belait costs about 92% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,486 in Kuala Belait. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $46.00 in Kuala Belait. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Kuala Belait, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,657 in Kuala Belait. 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, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.