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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $884 in Prijedor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,337 in Prijedor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,790 in Prijedor, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Prijedor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Prijedor are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Prijedor 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.29 BAM 12.48

-73.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.44 BAM 60.7

-48.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.70 BAM 9.77

31.23%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.16 BAM 1.98

74.14%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.73 BAM 1.24

16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.16 BAM 1.98

-68.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.30 BAM 3.93

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.16 BAM 1.99

209.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.36 BAM 2.33

21.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.40 BAM 2.40

12.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.40 BAM 4.11

-50.42%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.86 BAM 4.90

-32.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.22 BAM 17.51

58.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.26 BAM 12.44

-58.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.43 BAM 23.00

-18.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.25 BAM 2.14

116.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.70 BAM 2.91

-31.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.95 BAM 3.33

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.69 BAM 2.89

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.81 BAM 1.39

70.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.69 BAM 1.18

73.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.98 BAM 1.68

-31.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.94 BAM 1.61

-40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.59 BAM 6.15

29.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.15 BAM 13.96

116.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.20 BAM 2.05

55.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.07 BAM 3.54

59.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.75 BAM 3.00

-49.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$29.01 BAM 49.68

-33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.74 BAM 2.99

-21.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.76 BAM 1.31

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$10.58 BAM 18.12

-22.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.44 BAM 2.47

-15.28%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.9K BAM 40.9K

-10.58%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.9K BAM 44.3K

-12.96%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$122 BAM 209

-42.06%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$19.37 BAM 33.17

-27.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$28.90 BAM 49.49

-39.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.75 BAM 40.67

77.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.95 BAM 20.46

-42.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.66 BAM 9.69

4.59%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 BAM 264

100.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,335 BAM 5,712

346.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$73.4 BAM 126

-24.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$35.19 BAM 60.3

-25.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$98.7 BAM 169

-15.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$118 BAM 202

-40.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$180 BAM 308

140.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$148 BAM 253

61.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$269 BAM 460

206.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$145 BAM 248

254.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,474 BAM 4,237

-22.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,776 BAM 3,042

-17.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$496 BAM 849

16.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

20.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Prijedor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $180 in Prijedor. 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 17% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Prijedor. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Prijedor – so Prijedor 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 Prijedor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Prijedor costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,326 in Prijedor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Prijedor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Prijedor – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $884 in Prijedor, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $884 in Prijedor. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Prijedor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.