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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,496 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,408 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,319 in Manama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Manama is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-70.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-65.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.27 BHD 2.74

7.57%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-63.48%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.87 BHD 0.33

-2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.36 BHD 0.14

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-73.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$10.54 BHD 3.97

-64.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.71 BHD 0.64

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.27 BHD 0.48

28.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-53.09%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.47 BHD 0.93

-21.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.59 BHD 3.24

88.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.74 BHD 2.92

-59.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.28 BHD 3.88

6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.36 BHD 0.89

16.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.11 BHD 0.79

-42.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.77 BHD 0.67

-8.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.18 BHD 0.44

34.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.93 BHD 0.35

50.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.09 BHD 0.41

7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-54.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-28.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$18.88 BHD 7.12

-1.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-47.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.29 BHD 1.24

-1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.83 BHD 0.31

8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$31.28 BHD 11.79

-38.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$4.58 BHD 1.72

-69.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.96 BHD 1.49

-67.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-70.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.52 BHD 0.19

144.23%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

-42.22%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.7K BHD 7,796

7.41%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$121 BHD 45.53

-42.81%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-47.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-53.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$71.0 BHD 26.78

-42.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$45.13 BHD 17.01

-84.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-45.08%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$382 BHD 144

-21.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$8,953 BHD 3,375

67.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$46.73 BHD 17.62

17.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-58.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$84.8 BHD 31.98

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$88.8 BHD 33.47

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$818 BHD 308

-47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$559 BHD 211

-57.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,791 BHD 675

-55.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,244 BHD 469

-58.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,629 BHD 991

-24.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,941 BHD 732

-24.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$2,360 BHD 890

-73.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

-41.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $818 in Manama. 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 Manama, 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 $53.0 in Manama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $265 – making Chiang Mai 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 Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama costs about 73% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $2,243 in Manama. 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 $382 in Manama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Manama, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Manama at $1,496. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,496 in Manama. 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, Manama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.