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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $318 in Kushtia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $502 in Kushtia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Kushtia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 193% more than Kushtia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kushtia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kushtia 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$1.65 ৳202

26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$6.59 ৳808

197.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.95 ৳485

43.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 ৳510

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 ৳492

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$0.64 ৳78.0

182.81%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.25 ৳30.78

208.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.17 ৳20.80

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.62 ৳76.2

230.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.64 ৳78.3

135.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.55 ৳66.9

154.55%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.91 ৳111

148.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$8.20 ৳1,006

97.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.30 ৳282

26.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$5.68 ৳697

65.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.89 ৳232

41.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.43 ৳52.5

153.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.84 ৳226

-11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.48 ৳58.4

204.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.17 ৳21.37

652.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.34 ৳42.06

211.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.35 ৳42.44

105.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.23 ৳28.11

130.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.64 ৳1,060

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.99 ৳489

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 ৳827

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.60 ৳196

164.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.43 ৳52.8

104.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.21 ৳148

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.43 ৳52.7

34.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$3.31 ৳407

-27.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.04 ৳128

39.42%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$30.0K ৳3.7M

-30.00%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$32.3K ৳4.0M

-18.30%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$45.60 ৳5,596

39.58%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$4.00 ৳491

222.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$11.09 ৳1,361

85.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$13.85 ৳1,700

181.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.14 ৳508

58.94%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$25.39 ৳3,116

2987.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,178 ৳144.6K

1145.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$6.14 ৳754

797.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$8.35 ৳1,025

196.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$51.5 ৳6,317

82.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$37.18 ৳4,562

98.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$89.7 ৳11.0K

446.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$50.8 ৳6,232

467.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$168 ৳20.6K

430.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$115 ৳14.2K

351.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$759 ৳93.2K

159.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$324 ৳39.8K

85.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.48

-46.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kushtia: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $89.7 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 86% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Kushtia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $99.0 – 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 193% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $477 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $7.00 in Kushtia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kushtia, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kushtia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kushtia costs $318 versus $932 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.