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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $271 in Narayanganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $444 in Narayanganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Narayanganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 244% more than Narayanganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narayanganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Narayanganj 80% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$1.66 ৳204
25.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$9.73 ৳1,194
101.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$5.18 ৳635
9.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.71 ৳333
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.02 ৳493
-
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$1.17 ৳143
54.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$0.25 ৳30.78
208.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$0.15 ৳18.29
133.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$0.76 ৳92.9
169.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.38 ৳46.73
297.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$0.51 ৳62.9
174.51%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$1.12 ৳138
101.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$7.30 ৳896
121.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$2.05 ৳251
41.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$5.88 ৳722
60.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$2.26 ৳278
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$0.84 ৳103
29.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$2.00 ৳245
-19.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$0.81 ৳99.1
80.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$0.17 ৳21.47
652.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$0.43 ৳52.4
146.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$0.50 ৳61.4
44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$0.26 ৳31.66
103.85%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$8.86 ৳1,087
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.78 ৳95.4
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.49 ৳183
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$2.89 ৳354
46.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$0.84 ৳103
39.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$0.59 ৳71.9
-1.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$4.09 ৳502
-41.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$1.10 ৳135
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$32.1K ৳3.9M
-34.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$44.6K ৳5.5M
-40.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$30.25 ৳3,712
110.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$4.00 ৳490
222.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$5.99 ৳735
242.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$16.21 ৳1,990
140.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$2.77 ৳340
137.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$35.34 ৳4,336
2118.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$1,474 ৳180.9K
895.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$8.04 ৳986
585.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$6.57 ৳806
276.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$28.22 ৳3,463
233.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$24.31 ৳2,983
204.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$39.91 ৳4,897
1128.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$24.69 ৳3,029
1067.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$120 ৳14.8K
641.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$63.9 ৳7,841
715.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$1,321 ৳162.1K
49.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Narayanganj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
-
-
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 13, 2026

Last update for Narayanganj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $39.91 in Narayanganj. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Narayanganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $103 – making Narayanganj 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 Narayanganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Narayanganj?
Chiang Mai costs about 244% more than Narayanganj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Narayanganj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $406 in Narayanganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Narayanganj?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Narayanganj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Narayanganj?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $10.00 in Narayanganj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Narayanganj?
Groceries cost about 135% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Narayanganj?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Narayanganj, where all-in costs run around $271, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Narayanganj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Narayanganj?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narayanganj costs $271 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Narayanganj?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Narayanganj?
If budget matters most, go with Narayanganj. 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.

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