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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $300 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $495 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 217% more than Moulvibazar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Moulvibazar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Moulvibazar 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.59 ৳195

32.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$6.65 ৳817

198.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.90 ৳602

18.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 ৳319

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 ৳496

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.45 ৳178

26.21%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.29 ৳35.18

168.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.13 ৳16.47

138.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.81 ৳99.0

150.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.53 ৳64.9

201.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.51 ৳62.8

178.43%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.12 ৳138

94.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.22 ৳887

120.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.07 ৳255

48.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.57 ৳930

30.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.33 ৳286

12.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.88 ৳108

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.02 ৳248

-19.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.55 ৳68.2

178.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.38 ৳46.43

226.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.68 ৳83.8

66.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.40 ৳48.55

85.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.33 ৳40.96

51.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.93 ৳1,097

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ৳102

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ৳177

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.95 ৳363

45.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.39 ৳47.90

141.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$14.36 ৳1,764

285.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.83 ৳102

48.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.20 ৳25.17

165.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$0.85 ৳104

182.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.07 ৳132

34.58%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$33.0K ৳4.1M

-35.81%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$44.5K ৳5.5M

-38.67%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$24.36 ৳2,992

166.54%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.95 ৳486

237.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$12.19 ৳1,497

70.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$6.06 ৳744

567.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.09 ৳748

-35.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.68 ৳452

82.34%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$28.25 ৳3,470

2685.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,480 ৳181.7K

922.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$16.45 ৳2,021

241.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.96 ৳2,452

25.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$38.87 ৳4,774

138.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$31.39 ৳3,856

139.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$44.15 ৳5,423

995.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$27.51 ৳3,379

944.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$96.5 ৳11.8K

843.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$65.8 ৳8,087

706.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$692 ৳84.9K

186.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$177 ৳21.8K

241.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.5

-51.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Moulvibazar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $44.15 in Moulvibazar. 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 241% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $7.00 in Moulvibazar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $110 – making Moulvibazar 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 Moulvibazar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 217% more than Moulvibazar, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $450 in Moulvibazar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moulvibazar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.25 in Moulvibazar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 119% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moulvibazar, where all-in costs run around $300, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Moulvibazar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Moulvibazar costs $300 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Moulvibazar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.