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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $642 in Orsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in Orsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,357 in Orsha, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Orsha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Orsha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Orsha 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$6.36 BYN 19.47

-67.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$29.88 BYN 91.4

-34.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.17 BYN 12.75

35.49%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.51 BYN 4.62

19.87%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.61 BYN 1.86

16.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.34 BYN 1.05

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.12 BYN 3.41

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.47 BYN 7.55

46.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.72 BYN 2.20

172.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.57 BYN 1.74

163.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.07 BYN 3.28

25.23%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.34 BYN 4.11

68.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.55 BYN 20.05

148.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.97 BYN 12.14

-25.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.09 BYN 18.62

63.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.23 BYN 3.78

108.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.75 BYN 5.35

-39.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.78 BYN 5.44

-9.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.66 BYN 5.09

-8.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.38 BYN 1.18

234.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.63 BYN 1.93

69.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.95 BYN 2.91

-24.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.50 BYN 1.54

2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$1.91 BYN 5.83

119.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.70 BYN 23.57

132.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.48 BYN 4.52

14.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.12 BYN 6.50

33.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.68 BYN 2.07

36.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$14.50 BYN 44.37

271.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.70 BYN 2.15

75.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.32 BYN 0.97

81.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$9.92 BYN 30.36

-75.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.87 BYN 2.67

62.07%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$14.8K BYN 45.4K

44.42%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$15.6K BYN 47.6K

75.61%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$69.0 BYN 211

-7.71%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$7.21 BYN 22.05

78.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$11.25 BYN 34.42

79.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$36.61 BYN 112

5.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$3.20 BYN 9.80

110.63%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$329 BYN 1,007

136.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$9,807 BYN 30.0K

48.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$43.90 BYN 134

23.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$47.12 BYN 144

-45.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$89.8 BYN 275

5.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$104 BYN 319

-29.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$342 BYN 1,045

43.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$116 BYN 355

149.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$597 BYN 1,828

49.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$144 BYN 441

258.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,120 BYN 3,426

74.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$881 BYN 2,696

67.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$177 BYN 542

240.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-69.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Orsha: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $342 in Orsha. 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 240% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Orsha. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $152 in Orsha – so Orsha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Orsha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Orsha, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $962 in Orsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $329 in Orsha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% 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 Orsha, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Orsha 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. Orsha costs $642 versus $947 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 Orsha. 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.