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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $246 in Narayanganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $411 in Narayanganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $576 in Narayanganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 253% more than Narayanganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narayanganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Narayanganj 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.61 ৳198

20.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$9.70 ৳1,188

92.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.85 ৳349

174.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ৳402

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 ৳491

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.32 ৳162

47.73%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.28 ৳34.70

203.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.10 ৳12.55

250.00%

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

$0.62 ৳76.2

175.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.28 ৳33.89

482.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.37 ৳45.23

208.11%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.00 ৳123

93.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.05 ৳1,109

79.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.28 ৳157

143.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.67 ৳573

133.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.25 ৳153

120.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.42 ৳52.0

188.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.47 ৳58.2

244.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.16 ৳20.08

893.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.09 ৳11.19

1455.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.47 ৳57.3

148.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.24 ৳29.24

175.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.24 ৳29.15

120.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.65 ৳202

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ৳197

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ৳307

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.85 ৳349

64.56%

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 ৳26.97

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.21 ৳1,251

88.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.85 ৳104

65.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.40 ৳48.52

222.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.40 ৳294

226.67%

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

-35.15%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$33.9K ৳4.2M

-34.45%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$22.43 ৳2,748

207.94%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.79 ৳709

143.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.45 ৳1,648

33.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$13.37 ৳1,638

207.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.99 ৳611

39.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.22 ৳394

83.85%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$29.20 ৳3,577

924.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,344 ৳164.6K

1012.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$8.10 ৳992

575.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$6.42 ৳787

316.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$29.26 ৳3,585

190.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$24.95 ৳3,056

182.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$41.42 ৳5,075

933.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$24.67 ৳3,022

862.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$121 ৳14.9K

560.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$66.7 ৳8,167

673.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,320 ৳161.7K

49.59%

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 %)

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 Narayanganj: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $41.42 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Narayanganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $79.0 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 253% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $368 in Narayanganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $29.20 in Narayanganj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 213% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $246 in Narayanganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narayanganj costs $246 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 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.