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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $287 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $462 in Narsingdi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $636 in Narsingdi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 203% more than Narsingdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narsingdi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Narsingdi 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.21 ৳149

63.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$4.90 ৳600

283.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.82 ৳346

174.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 ৳714

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 ৳493

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.38 ৳169

39.13%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.32 ৳39.78

146.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.10 ৳11.83

260.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.58 ৳71.5

184.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 ৳76.2

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.42 ৳51.5

183.33%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.75 ৳92.3

166.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.69 ৳819

138.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$1.10 ৳134

175.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.38 ৳537

147.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.05 ৳128

162.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.76 ৳93.3

55.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.08 ৳133

51.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.47 ৳57.6

223.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.20 ৳24.46

590.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.36 ৳43.64

230.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.37 ৳45.61

89.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.22 ৳26.98

154.55%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.82 ৳1,080

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ৳97.2

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ৳183

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.93 ৳359

56.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.22 ৳26.97

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.37 ৳1,271

80.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.80 ৳98.2

70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.42 ৳52.0

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.44 ৳299

221.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.05 ৳129

17.14%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$32.6K ৳4.0M

-33.72%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.5K ৳4.2M

-34.67%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$22.74 ৳2,787

210.20%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.61 ৳687

143.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.11 ৳1,607

33.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.19 ৳1,616

213.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.83 ৳1,450

-41.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.35 ৳411

72.24%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$29.71 ৳3,640

933.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,341 ৳164.4K

989.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$20.80 ৳2,549

168.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$18.79 ৳2,302

39.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$52.8 ৳6,464

62.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$33.92 ৳4,157

112.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$70.1 ৳8,585

513.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$41.57 ৳5,094

474.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$161 ৳19.7K

408.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$96.7 ৳11.8K

428.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$845 ৳103.5K

134.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Narsingdi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $70.1 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: $241 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 203% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $431 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $29.71 in Narsingdi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 212% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $287 in Narsingdi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narsingdi costs $287 versus $869 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.