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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $353 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $586 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $819 in Narsingdi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 164% more than Narsingdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narsingdi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Narsingdi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.00 ৳245

4.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$12.17 ৳1,493

61.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.31 ৳651

6.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ৳318

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 ৳511

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.92 ৳236

-5.73%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.39 ৳47.89

97.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.14 ৳17.32

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.81 ৳99.0

153.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.60 ৳74.2

151.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.67 ৳82.1

108.96%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.15 ৳142

96.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$7.36 ৳903

119.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.14 ৳263

35.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$7.42 ৳911

26.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.27 ৳278

18.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.84 ৳103

29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.07 ৳254

-21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.87 ৳107

67.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.44 ৳53.6

190.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.80 ৳97.9

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.49 ৳60.4

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.33 ৳40.66

60.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.89 ৳1,091

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ৳97.8

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ৳178

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.91 ৳358

45.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.39 ৳47.82

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.78 ৳95.2

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.56 ৳68.6

3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$3.98 ৳489

-39.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.10 ৳135

31.82%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$32.7K ৳4.0M

-35.74%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$44.1K ৳5.4M

-40.01%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$30.18 ৳3,703

110.90%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$5.62 ৳689

129.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$12.48 ৳1,532

64.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$13.51 ৳1,658

188.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.59 ৳441

83.29%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$36.06 ৳4,425

2073.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,459 ৳179.1K

905.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$23.16 ৳2,842

137.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$19.55 ৳2,400

26.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$55.5 ৳6,811

69.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$34.97 ৳4,291

111.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$87.9 ৳10.8K

458.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$50.6 ৳6,205

469.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$171 ৳21.0K

421.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$118 ৳14.5K

342.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$715 ৳87.7K

176.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

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 Narsingdi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $87.9 in Narsingdi. 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 $12.00 in Narsingdi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $114 – making Narsingdi 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 Narsingdi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 164% more than Narsingdi, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $529 in Narsingdi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Narsingdi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $12.00 in Narsingdi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 111% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Narsingdi, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Narsingdi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narsingdi costs $353 versus $932 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 Narsingdi. 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.