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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $332 in Noakhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $552 in Noakhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $772 in Noakhali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Noakhali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Noakhali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Noakhali 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.39 ৳294

-17.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$12.57 ৳1,543

49.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.94 ৳606

60.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 ৳506

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 ৳610

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.22 ৳272

-13.96%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.34 ৳42.11

147.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.20 ৳23.95

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.72 ৳88.9

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.70 ৳86.1

131.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.59 ৳72.4

100.00%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.24 ৳153

62.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.77 ৳832

134.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$1.42 ৳174

111.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.70 ৳823

60.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.00 ৳246

30.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.86 ৳106

41.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.52 ৳309

-32.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.32 ৳38.97

393.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.36 ৳43.80

266.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.51 ৳62.9

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.33 ৳40.49

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.24 ৳29.45

133.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.74 ৳1,073

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.90 ৳479

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 ৳873

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.97 ৳364

52.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.22 ৳27.05

304.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$10.41 ৳1,278

86.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.20 ৳147

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.40 ৳48.91

237.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.49 ৳306

231.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.93 ৳114

36.56%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$28.8K ৳3.5M

-26.42%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$27.7K ৳3.4M

-18.86%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$16.25 ৳1,995

331.69%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.99 ৳490

245.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$13.24 ৳1,626

32.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$13.50 ৳1,658

207.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.66 ৳1,431

-43.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.13 ৳508

39.95%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$47.50 ৳5,831

544.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,999 ৳245.4K

641.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$18.44 ৳2,264

194.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$24.30 ৳2,984

7.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$47.05 ৳5,775

79.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$36.50 ৳4,480

90.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$68.4 ৳8,392

519.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$41.65 ৳5,113

471.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$162 ৳19.9K

407.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$98.6 ৳12.1K

422.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$623 ৳76.4K

229.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$448 ৳55.0K

239.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$402 ৳49.3K

58.07%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Noakhali: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $68.4 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 58% 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: $243 vs $102 – 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 157% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $498 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $47.50 in Noakhali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 138% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $332 in Noakhali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Noakhali costs $332 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 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.