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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $285 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $458 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Narsingdi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 199% more than Narsingdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narsingdi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Narsingdi 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.19 ৳148

71.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$4.81 ৳594

288.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$2.82 ৳349

178.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 ৳727

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 ৳498

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.33 ৳164

52.63%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.30 ৳36.49

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.10 ৳12.59

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.58 ৳72.2

198.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.58 ৳71.5

170.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.43 ৳53.1

179.07%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.76 ৳94.2

159.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.47 ৳799

150.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$1.09 ৳135

180.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.61 ৳570

134.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.05 ৳130

163.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.77 ৳95.0

51.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.09 ৳135

56.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.51 ৳63.4

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.22 ৳27.22

531.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.36 ৳44.40

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.38 ৳46.76

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.22 ৳27.23

136.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.79 ৳1,086

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ৳96.5

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 ৳180

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.92 ৳360

59.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.20 ৳24.69

355.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.35 ৳1,279

80.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.86 ৳106

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.43 ৳52.7

211.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.44 ৳302

232.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.01 ৳125

21.78%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$33.1K ৳4.1M

-35.17%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$34.2K ৳4.2M

-36.13%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$22.24 ৳2,748

220.73%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$5.69 ৳703

146.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$13.42 ৳1,659

33.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$13.59 ৳1,679

200.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.73 ৳1,449

-41.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.31 ৳409

72.81%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$29.80 ৳3,683

934.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,338 ৳165.3K

997.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$20.13 ৳2,488

177.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$18.17 ৳2,246

43.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$52.8 ৳6,525

60.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$33.53 ৳4,144

111.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$70.0 ৳8,654

504.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$42.57 ৳5,261

469.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$166 ৳20.5K

380.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$96.8 ৳12.0K

423.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$636 ৳78.6K

201.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Narsingdi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $5.00 in Narsingdi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $77.0 – 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 199% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $428 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.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $29.80 in Narsingdi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 215% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $285 in Narsingdi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narsingdi costs $285 versus $852 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.