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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,642 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,431 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,220 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.62 BND 4.65

-46.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$46.89 BND 60.1

-60.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$7.69 BND 9.86

1.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.96

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.51 BND 5.78

-56.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.97 BND 1.24

-12.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.56 BND 0.72

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.45 BND 3.14

-30.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.49 BND 3.20

-34.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.29 BND 2.93

-50.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.60 BND 3.34

-25.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$18.55 BND 23.79

-12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$9.84 BND 12.62

-68.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$25.05 BND 32.13

-56.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$4.68 BND 6.00

-41.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.63 BND 3.38

-53.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.10 BND 3.98

-47.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.80 BND 3.59

-43.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.64 BND 2.10

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.21 BND 2.84

-47.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$5.49 BND 7.05

-87.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.81 BND 1.04

-34.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.58

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.62 BND 9.78

-38.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$4.56 BND 5.85

-69.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$11.88 BND 15.24

-34.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.35 BND 0.45

262.86%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$23.0K BND 29.5K

-7.47%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$26.9K BND 34.4K

-17.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$39.27 BND 50.4

75.88%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.38 BND 27.43

-34.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$64.1 BND 82.2

-71.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$96.8 BND 124

-57.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$21.48 BND 27.55

-67.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.33 BND 6.84

11.07%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$157 BND 201

90.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$9,152 BND 11.7K

63.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$98.8 BND 127

-44.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$99.5 BND 128

-73.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$125 BND 160

-31.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$64.8 BND 83.1

8.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$727 BND 932

-41.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$766 BND 982

-69.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,167 BND 1,498

-31.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,166 BND 1,496

-55.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,392 BND 4,351

-81.80%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $727 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 449% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 90% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,463 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $47.00 in Kuala Belait. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $866, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. 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 $866 versus $1,642 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.