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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $332 in Madaripur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $551 in Madaripur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $769 in Madaripur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Madaripur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Madaripur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Madaripur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.61 ৳198

20.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$14.56 ৳1,784

28.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.18 ৳879

8.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 ৳714

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 ৳501

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.60 ৳196

21.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.39 ৳47.28

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.15 ৳18.24

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.73 ৳89.4

134.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 ৳76.2

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.62 ৳75.7

83.87%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.18 ৳144

63.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.17 ৳1,123

76.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.62 ৳199

92.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.51 ৳920

45.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.25 ৳276

22.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.01 ৳124

19.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.02 ৳248

-19.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.81 ৳98.9

96.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.44 ৳53.9

218.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.91 ৳111

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.37 ৳45.42

78.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.27 ৳33.29

96.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.73 ৳1,069

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ৳102

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ৳186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.82 ৳345

66.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

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 ฿29.26

$0.20 ৳24.48

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.30 ৳1,261

86.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.86 ৳105

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.39 ৳48.15

230.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.50 ৳306

213.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.01 ৳124

25.74%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.8K ৳4.0M

-35.15%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.2K ৳4.2M

-35.07%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$22.55 ৳2,763

206.30%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.61 ৳688

150.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.20 ৳1,617

36.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$13.67 ৳1,675

200.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.64 ৳1,426

-40.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.27 ৳400

81.04%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$29.44 ৳3,606

915.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,391 ৳170.4K

974.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$16.46 ৳2,016

232.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$18.71 ৳2,292

43.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$20.22 ৳2,477

320.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$34.09 ৳4,177

107.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$69.9 ৳8,562

512.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$41.91 ৳5,135

466.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$162 ৳19.9K

393.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$95.5 ৳11.7K

439.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$754 ৳92.3K

161.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,933 ৳236.8K

-23.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$162 ৳19.8K

281.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.32

-55.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Madaripur: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $69.9 in Madaripur. 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 282% 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 $15.00 in Madaripur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $116 – making Madaripur 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 Madaripur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Madaripur, 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 $499 in Madaripur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $29.44 in Madaripur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 112% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $332 in Madaripur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madaripur costs $332 versus $866 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 Madaripur. 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.