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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $304 in Kushtia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $489 in Kushtia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $673 in Kushtia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 186% more than Kushtia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kushtia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kushtia 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.66 ৳204

19.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$6.69 ৳820

181.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.19 ৳514

84.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 ৳495

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 ৳618

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.68 ৳83.3

182.35%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.24 ৳29.21

229.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ৳21.26

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.63 ৳77.5

161.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.63 ৳77.4

158.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.55 ৳67.2

116.36%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.93 ৳114

115.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.99 ৳857

128.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.32 ৳284

30.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.73 ৳702

89.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.86 ৳228

48.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.43 ৳52.3

174.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.84 ৳225

-10.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.50 ৳61.8

204.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.14 ৳17.15

885.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.34 ৳42.14

250.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ৳39.99

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.24 ৳29.17

133.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.99 ৳1,470

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 ৳476

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 ৳861

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.66 ৳203

175.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.20 ৳24.50

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.43 ৳1,278

79.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.26 ৳155

7.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.43 ৳52.6

211.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.14 ৳385

149.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.04 ৳127

18.27%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.2K ৳3.5M

-23.28%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-20.81%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$32.13 ৳3,937

119.55%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.80 ৳588

185.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.37 ৳1,639

30.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.40 ৳1,642

208.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.67 ৳1,430

-40.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.12 ৳505

40.05%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$46.89 ৳5,745

554.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,953 ৳239.4K

647.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$6.11 ৳748

813.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$8.01 ৳981

227.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$46.37 ৳5,682

84.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$36.06 ৳4,419

100.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$69.6 ৳8,533

517.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$41.59 ৳5,096

473.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$166 ৳20.3K

392.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$97.4 ৳11.9K

424.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$679 ৳83.2K

191.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$327 ৳40.1K

89.18%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kushtia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $69.6 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 89% 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: $241 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 186% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $456 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.89 in Kushtia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 153% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $304 in Kushtia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kushtia costs $304 versus $869 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.