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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $967 in Mostar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,448 in Mostar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,930 in Mostar, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mostar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mostar 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$7.20 BAM 12.28

-71.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$29.84 BAM 50.9

-34.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿188

$5.84 BAM 9.95

-2.91%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.70 BAM 2.89

6.47%

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

$0.77 ฿25.52

$1.94 BAM 3.30

-60.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.47

$1.27 BAM 2.16

-72.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$2.40 BAM 4.08

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.14 BAM 3.66

77.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.0

$1.14 BAM 1.95

79.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.3

$0.99 BAM 1.69

52.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.47

$2.12 BAM 3.62

-33.96%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.0

$2.63 BAM 4.48

-14.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$8.07 BAM 13.75

100.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.2

$7.51 BAM 12.80

-61.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$10.90 BAM 18.59

-13.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.0

$1.13 BAM 1.92

137.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.20

$1.70 BAM 2.90

-35.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.7

$1.46 BAM 2.50

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.51

$1.22 BAM 2.07

19.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.45

$0.83 BAM 1.42

54.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.14

$0.69 BAM 1.18

53.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.83

$0.76 BAM 1.29

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.48

$0.68 BAM 1.15

-22.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿140

$3.98 BAM 6.78

6.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$4.19 BAM 7.14

336.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$0.78 BAM 1.33

108.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$0.96 BAM 1.64

202.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.17

$1.15 BAM 1.96

-23.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,786

$34.34 BAM 58.5

56.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.96

$1.73 BAM 2.95

-32.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.21

$0.62 BAM 1.05

-6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.2

$10.69 BAM 18.22

-77.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.17

$1.54 BAM 2.62

-5.84%

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

$21.0K ฿698.0K

$31.6K BAM 53.9K

-33.55%

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

$26.4K ฿877.8K

$22.2K BAM 37.8K

19.07%

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

$63.7 ฿2,114

$124 BAM 212

-48.73%

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

$12.89 ฿428

$18.09 BAM 30.83

-28.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$27.59 BAM 47.03

-25.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,296

$35.55 BAM 60.6

9.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$11.58 BAM 19.75

-66.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.62 BAM 9.58

17.08%

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

$784 ฿26.0K

$151 BAM 257

420.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.4K

$13.8K BAM 23.6K

6.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,831

$59.1 BAM 101

-6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿822

$33.73 BAM 57.5

-26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,127

$88.1 BAM 150

6.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,457

$83.8 BAM 143

-11.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$440 BAM 749

11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,574

$261 BAM 445

10.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$669 BAM 1,141

33.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$462 BAM 788

12.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,367 BAM 4,035

-16.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,639 BAM 2,794

-11.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$873 BAM 1,487

-31.05%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Mostar: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $440 in Mostar. 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 45% higher in Mostar, 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 $30.00 in Mostar. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Mostar – so Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mostar costs about 4% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,450 in Mostar. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $151 in Mostar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Mostar – 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 $932, than in Mostar at $967. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mostar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $967 in Mostar. 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, Mostar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.