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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,502 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,014 in Maglaj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Maglaj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maglaj 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$7.16 BAM 12.03

-70.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$39.10 BAM 65.7

-49.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.23 BAM 12.14

-19.92%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.69 BAM 2.83

8.28%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$1.91 BAM 3.21

-59.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-75.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.32 BAM 3.90

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.33 BAM 3.91

58.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.44 BAM 2.42

40.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.00 BAM 1.67

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$1.76 BAM 2.96

-19.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$2.89 BAM 4.85

-24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$7.55 BAM 12.68

110.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$7.30 BAM 12.25

-57.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$10.02 BAM 16.82

-1.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.21 BAM 2.03

117.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-36.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$1.82 BAM 3.05

-10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-12.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.17 BAM 1.97

5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.17 BAM 1.96

-3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$0.92 BAM 1.55

-19.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.60 BAM 6.04

18.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$7.25 BAM 12.17

147.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$1.22 BAM 2.05

39.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$1.16 BAM 1.95

150.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$1.37 BAM 2.30

-31.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$1.83 BAM 3.08

-32.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.05 BAM 1.76

-49.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$10.57 BAM 17.76

-77.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-2.04%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$31.8K BAM 53.4K

-33.39%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.5K BAM 37.8K

21.36%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$121 BAM 203

-46.32%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$18.90 BAM 31.74

-29.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$28.81 BAM 48.39

-27.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$33.96 BAM 57.0

19.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$4.69 BAM 7.88

43.07%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$153 BAM 257

415.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$3,940 BAM 6,617

283.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$114 BAM 191

-50.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$35.89 BAM 60.3

-30.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$100 BAM 168

-7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$118 BAM 198

-36.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$358 BAM 601

35.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$259 BAM 434

11.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$531 BAM 892

71.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$382 BAM 642

38.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

$2,506 BAM 4,208

-20.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

$1,807 BAM 3,035

-19.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$780 BAM 1,310

-22.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.3

29.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $358 in Maglaj. 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 29% higher in Maglaj, 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 $39.00 in Maglaj. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $208 in Maglaj – so Maglaj wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maglaj costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,485 in Maglaj. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Maglaj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Maglaj at $990. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maglaj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $990 in Maglaj. 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, Maglaj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.