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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $331 in Noakhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $563 in Noakhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $795 in Noakhali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Noakhali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Noakhali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Noakhali 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.53 ৳310

-21.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$12.64 ৳1,549

48.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.88 ৳598

58.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.18 ৳512

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 ৳588

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.20 ৳270

-12.73%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.34 ৳41.80

132.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.18 ৳22.34

100.00%

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

$0.68 ৳82.8

142.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.66 ৳81.4

146.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.59 ৳72.6

101.69%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.22 ৳149

63.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.71 ৳822

138.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$1.37 ৳168

121.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.43 ৳788

68.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.03 ৳249

35.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.79 ৳96.6

49.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.48 ৳303

-33.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.32 ৳38.94

375.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.35 ৳42.97

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.47 ৳57.1

153.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ৳39.90

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.24 ৳29.33

133.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.34 ৳1,512

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 ৳474

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 ৳834

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.94 ৳360

55.78%

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

$0.20 ৳24.45

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.12 ৳1,240

84.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.22 ৳149

11.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.39 ৳47.74

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.41 ৳295

225.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.99 ৳121

24.24%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-24.05%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.1K ৳3.4M

-19.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$16.13 ৳1,976

337.32%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.21 ৳516

224.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.28 ৳1,627

31.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.55 ৳1,660

205.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.79 ৳1,444

-40.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.00 ৳490

44.25%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$48.51 ৳5,945

533.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,959 ৳240.0K

645.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$18.80 ৳2,304

196.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.01 ৳2,942

9.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$46.32 ৳5,676

85.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$37.26 ৳4,566

93.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$69.1 ৳8,466

522.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$42.47 ৳5,204

462.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$166 ৳20.3K

393.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$96.0 ৳11.8K

432.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$847 ৳103.8K

134.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$409 ৳50.1K

51.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

-52.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Noakhali: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $69.1 in Noakhali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Noakhali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $99.0 – making Noakhali 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 Noakhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Noakhali, 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 $497 in Noakhali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noakhali, 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 $48.51 in Noakhali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 142% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $331 in Noakhali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Noakhali costs $331 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 Noakhali. 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.