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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $310 in Munshiganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $492 in Munshiganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $673 in Munshiganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Munshiganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Munshiganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Munshiganj 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.65 ৳204

18.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$9.56 ৳1,178

91.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.91 ৳605

52.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.20 ৳518

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 ৳577

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.48 ৳183

36.49%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.32 ৳38.96

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.14 ৳17.69

157.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.58 ৳71.8

184.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.16 ৳143

35.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.65 ৳80.1

83.08%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.06 ৳131

83.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.65 ৳820

143.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$1.93 ৳237

54.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$5.14 ৳633

112.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.21 ৳149

123.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.90 ৳111

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.05 ৳129

60.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.32 ৳39.59

400.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.16 ৳20.05

762.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.30 ৳37.07

300.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.35 ৳43.46

91.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.14 ৳17.73

300.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.53 ৳1,052

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 ৳276

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 ৳611

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.89 ৳356

60.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.22 ৳27.16

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$10.22 ৳1,260

89.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.79 ৳97.6

72.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.43 ৳52.5

211.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.10 ৳259

290.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.00 ৳123

22.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$28.6K ৳3.5M

-25.24%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$27.7K ৳3.4M

-18.53%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$30.10 ৳3,710

134.78%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.67 ৳575

200.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$13.28 ৳1,636

31.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$13.28 ৳1,637

217.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.62 ৳1,432

-40.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.06 ৳501

45.81%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$27.51 ৳3,391

1021.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$952 ৳117.3K

1462.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$16.18 ৳1,994

244.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$18.02 ৳2,221

44.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$33.34 ৳4,109

149.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$34.34 ৳4,232

105.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$28.21 ৳3,477

1431.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$41.25 ৳5,084

479.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$166 ৳20.4K

396.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$74.8 ৳9,221

584.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$714 ৳88.0K

168.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.29

-51.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Munshiganj: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $28.21 in Munshiganj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Munshiganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $91.0 – making Munshiganj 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 Munshiganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Munshiganj, 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 $465 in Munshiganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Munshiganj, 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 $27.51 in Munshiganj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 168% 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 $310 in Munshiganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Munshiganj costs $310 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 Munshiganj. 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.