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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $297 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $491 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $685 in Moulvibazar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 190% more than Moulvibazar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Moulvibazar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Moulvibazar 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.67 ৳206

17.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$8.07 ৳994

127.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.55 ৳684

34.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 ৳722

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 ৳494

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.54 ৳189

31.17%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.30 ৳37.35

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.16 ৳19.81

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.79 ৳97.8

108.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.50 ৳61.5

214.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.47 ৳57.5

153.19%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.20 ৳148

61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.03 ৳989

101.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$1.69 ৳208

76.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.33 ৳903

49.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.29 ৳283

18.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.02 ৳126

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.98 ৳244

-14.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.59 ৳72.3

171.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.41 ৳50.4

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.75 ৳92.9

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.38 ৳46.78

76.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.25 ৳30.45

124.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.62 ৳1,063

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ৳99.2

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ৳186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.85 ৳352

62.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.20 ৳24.61

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$10.22 ৳1,260

89.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.80 ৳99.1

70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.22 ৳27.17

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$0.80 ৳99.1

926.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.05 ৳130

16.19%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.1K ৳4.1M

-35.48%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.6K ৳4.1M

-33.00%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$22.87 ৳2,820

209.01%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.05 ৳499

246.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$13.47 ৳1,661

29.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$6.24 ৳770

575.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.05 ৳746

13.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.34 ৳412

77.25%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$28.41 ৳3,502

986.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,352 ৳166.7K

1000.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$16.67 ৳2,055

234.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$18.82 ৳2,321

38.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$39.08 ৳4,818

112.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$31.29 ৳3,857

125.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$44.72 ৳5,513

866.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$27.82 ৳3,430

758.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$96.5 ৳11.9K

751.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$66.8 ৳8,239

666.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$742 ৳91.5K

157.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$174 ৳21.5K

232.80%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Moulvibazar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $44.72 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 233% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Moulvibazar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 190% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $445 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.41 in Moulvibazar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 122% 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 $861 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 $861 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.