Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kushtia Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kushtia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $308 in Kushtia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $490 in Kushtia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $672 in Kushtia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Kushtia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kushtia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kushtia 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.63 ৳201

25.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$6.50 ৳803

187.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.02 ৳497

95.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 ৳515

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 ৳600

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$0.69 ৳85.6

194.20%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.26 ৳32.27

207.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.18 ৳21.94

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.61 ৳74.9

183.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.68 ৳84.3

130.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.55 ৳68.2

118.18%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.91 ৳112

116.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.70 ৳828

142.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.29 ৳283

33.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$5.81 ৳718

85.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.94 ৳240

42.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.42 ৳52.2

178.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.85 ৳228

-7.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.50 ৳61.9

218.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.18 ৳22.33

672.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.35 ৳42.79

231.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.35 ৳43.28

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.24 ৳29.38

116.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.54 ৳1,056

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.02 ৳496

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 ৳845

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.60 ৳198

190.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.22 ৳27.25

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.46 ৳1,292

78.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.25 ৳154

12.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.40 ৳49.29

235.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.99 ৳369

171.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.03 ৳127

19.42%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$28.3K ৳3.5M

-24.13%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$27.9K ৳3.4M

-21.72%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$32.03 ৳3,958

122.70%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.73 ৳584

196.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$13.26 ৳1,639

35.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$13.50 ৳1,668

202.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.62 ৳1,436

-40.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.00 ৳494

43.00%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$47.58 ৳5,879

547.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,999 ৳247.1K

634.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$6.02 ৳744

826.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$7.98 ৳986

226.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$47.81 ৳5,908

77.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$36.59 ৳4,522

94.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$70.9 ৳8,761

497.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$41.51 ৳5,130

484.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$164 ৳20.3K

385.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$97.0 ৳12.0K

422.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$643 ৳79.4K

198.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$318 ৳39.2K

87.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

-52.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kushtia: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $70.9 in Kushtia. 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 87% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $7.00 in Kushtia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $95.0 – making Kushtia 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 Kushtia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Kushtia, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $461 in Kushtia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kushtia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $47.58 in Kushtia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 156% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $308 in Kushtia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kushtia costs $308 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Kushtia. 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.