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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $297 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $493 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $689 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 191% more than Moulvibazar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Moulvibazar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Moulvibazar 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.69 ৳206

14.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$8.06 ৳988

131.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.72 ৳700

36.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 ৳686

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 ৳508

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.50 ৳184

30.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.30 ৳36.80

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.13 ৳16.34

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.80 ৳97.5

113.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.48 ৳59.4

239.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.47 ৳57.9

142.55%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.18 ৳144

63.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.83 ৳959

107.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.62 ৳199

92.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.48 ৳916

45.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.21 ৳271

24.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.93 ৳115

30.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.05 ৳251

-20.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.60 ৳73.2

165.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.41 ৳49.98

241.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.75 ৳92.4

56.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.37 ৳45.87

78.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.27 ৳33.36

96.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.58 ৳1,051

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ৳99.0

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ৳183

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.81 ৳344

66.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 ৳24.47

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.34 ৳1,266

85.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.84 ৳103

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.20 ৳24.50

545.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.80 ৳98.0

880.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.01 ৳124

25.74%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.8K ৳4.0M

-35.06%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.3K ৳4.2M

-35.16%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$22.83 ৳2,797

202.54%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.07 ৳498

245.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.17 ৳1,613

36.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$6.33 ৳775

548.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.07 ৳744

14.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.20 ৳392

85.00%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$28.61 ৳3,505

945.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,366 ৳167.3K

994.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$16.66 ৳2,041

228.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$18.72 ৳2,293

43.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$38.41 ৳4,706

121.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$31.78 ৳3,893

122.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$44.75 ৳5,482

856.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$27.65 ৳3,387

758.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$99.7 ৳12.2K

703.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$66.4 ৳8,135

676.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$816 ৳100.0K

141.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$175 ৳21.5K

252.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.67

-57.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Moulvibazar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $44.75 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 252% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Moulvibazar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $109 – 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 191% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $446 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.61 in Moulvibazar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 126% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $297 in Moulvibazar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Moulvibazar costs $297 versus $866 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.