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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $309 in Munshiganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $488 in Munshiganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $668 in Munshiganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 180% more than Munshiganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Munshiganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Munshiganj 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.60 ৳196

21.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$9.67 ৳1,185

92.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.02 ৳615

55.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ৳498

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ৳567

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.48 ৳182

31.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.34 ৳41.98

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.15 ৳18.21

133.33%

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

$0.58 ৳70.9

194.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.15 ৳141

41.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.63 ৳77.4

80.95%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.02 ৳125

89.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.76 ৳828

139.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.92 ৳236

62.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$5.11 ৳626

113.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.20 ৳147

129.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.95 ৳117

27.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.01 ৳124

60.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.30 ৳36.59

430.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.17 ৳20.89

723.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.30 ৳36.80

290.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.36 ৳43.54

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.16 ৳19.05

231.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.26 ৳890

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ৳279

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 ৳605

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.83 ৳346

65.72%

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

$0.22 ৳26.99

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.13 ৳1,241

89.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.86 ৳105

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.43 ৳52.3

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.09 ৳256

275.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.00 ৳123

27.00%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$29.1K ৳3.6M

-26.99%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.0K ৳3.4M

-20.54%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$29.56 ৳3,621

133.66%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.88 ৳597

188.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.89 ৳1,579

39.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$13.53 ৳1,657

203.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.60 ৳1,421

-40.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.13 ৳506

43.34%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$26.97 ৳3,304

1008.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$926 ৳113.4K

1515.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$15.77 ৳1,933

246.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$17.78 ৳2,179

50.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$33.07 ৳4,052

157.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$33.82 ৳4,144

108.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$28.89 ৳3,539

1382.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$41.99 ৳5,144

465.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$162 ৳19.9K

393.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$72.6 ৳8,891

610.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$743 ৳91.0K

165.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Munshiganj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $28.89 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Munshiganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 180% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $464 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.97 in Munshiganj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 171% 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 $309 in Munshiganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Munshiganj costs $309 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 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.