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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $918 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,417 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,916 in Maglaj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Maglaj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.94 BAM 11.65

-72.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$34.95 BAM 58.7

-46.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.68 BAM 9.54

37.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.74 BAM 2.93

12.07%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-54.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.16 BAM 1.94

-69.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.38 BAM 4.00

-10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.11 BAM 3.54

76.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.35 BAM 2.27

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 BAM 1.70

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.79 BAM 3.00

-36.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.86 BAM 4.80

-32.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.52 BAM 12.63

115.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.11 BAM 11.94

-56.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.84 BAM 16.53

10.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.20 BAM 2.02

129.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.68 BAM 2.83

-27.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.75 BAM 2.93

-7.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.81 BAM 3.04

-12.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.17 BAM 1.96

19.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.98 BAM 1.64

-32.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-41.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.44 BAM 5.79

36.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.24 BAM 12.17

157.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.20 BAM 2.02

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.15 BAM 1.93

180.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.43 BAM 59.5

-45.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.75 BAM 2.95

-19.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.16 BAM 1.95

11.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.81 BAM 18.16

-27.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.49 BAM 2.51

-14.77%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

-11.14%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.8K BAM 43.4K

-14.02%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$123 BAM 206

-43.79%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.70 BAM 31.42

-24.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$28.79 BAM 48.36

-37.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.57 BAM 49.69

38.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.82 BAM 18.18

-35.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.60 BAM 7.73

28.70%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$152 BAM 256

96.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,316 BAM 5,571

350.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$70.5 BAM 118

-22.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$35.67 BAM 59.9

-24.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$99.8 BAM 168

-14.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$119 BAM 200

-40.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$257 BAM 432

66.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$169 BAM 285

40.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$370 BAM 622

116.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$314 BAM 527

64.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,591 BAM 4,354

-23.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,813 BAM 3,046

-18.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$772 BAM 1,297

-20.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

20.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $257 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 25% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Maglaj. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $205 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 6% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,377 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $152 in Maglaj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Maglaj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $918 in Maglaj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $918 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.