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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,479 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,410 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,340 in Manama, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Manama is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$6.57 BHD 2.48

-70.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-64.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$5.46 BHD 2.06

-63.00%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.79 BHD 0.30

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.37 BHD 0.14

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$8.01 BHD 3.02

-73.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$10.46 BHD 3.94

-65.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.65 BHD 0.62

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$1.33 BHD 0.50

18.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$2.34 BHD 0.88

-49.15%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$2.40 BHD 0.90

-19.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.62 BHD 3.25

87.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$7.50 BHD 2.83

-60.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$10.23 BHD 3.86

6.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$2.45 BHD 0.92

10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$2.10 BHD 0.79

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.70 BHD 0.64

-0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.17 BHD 0.44

36.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.92 BHD 0.35

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$1.08 BHD 0.41

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-53.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-28.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$18.75 BHD 7.07

-6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$3.35 BHD 1.26

-44.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.14 BHD 1.18

5.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.78 BHD 0.29

12.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$32.29 BHD 12.17

-40.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$4.66 BHD 1.76

-70.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$4.00 BHD 1.51

-66.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$26.04 BHD 9.81

-68.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$0.53 BHD 0.20

130.19%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-43.36%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$20.7K BHD 7,813

8.68%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$122 BHD 46.06

-42.17%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$26.99 BHD 10.17

-47.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$38.99 BHD 14.70

-55.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$71.4 BHD 26.90

-40.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$44.42 BHD 16.74

-84.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-43.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$394 BHD 148

-21.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$8,780 BHD 3,309

69.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$46.27 BHD 17.44

20.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$61.5 BHD 23.19

-57.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$82.8 BHD 31.21

0.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$89.4 BHD 33.71

-21.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$803 BHD 303

-46.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$548 BHD 207

-56.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$1,794 BHD 676

-54.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,208 BHD 455

-57.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$2,668 BHD 1,006

-28.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,960 BHD 739

-25.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$2,276 BHD 858

-74.54%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $803 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 293% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Manama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $262 – 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 72% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,218 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $394 in Manama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $861, than in Manama at $1,479. 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 $861 versus $1,479 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.