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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $321 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $513 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $704 in Rajshahi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 196% more than Rajshahi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rajshahi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rajshahi 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$0.84 ৳104

150.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$8.10 ৳995

144.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.80 ৳344

106.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.91 ৳603

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ৳281

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.35 ৳166

35.56%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.31 ৳37.55

151.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.16 ৳20.13

93.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.70 ৳85.4

190.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.63 ৳77.0

153.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.64 ৳78.4

121.87%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.14 ৳140

91.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.67 ৳1,066

83.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.26 ৳400

-5.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$6.71 ৳825

47.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.70 ৳331

-2.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.95 ৳116

15.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.35 ৳288

-30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.44 ৳54.0

247.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.23 ৳28.02

439.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.48 ৳58.5

135.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.32 ৳38.91

131.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.30 ৳37.18

66.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.29 ৳1,510

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ৳198

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ৳253

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.25 ৳399

31.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.09 ৳10.98

944.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$12.13 ৳1,490

355.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.20 ৳147

2.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.31 ৳38.54

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.02 ৳126

135.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.07 ৳131

34.58%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$30.3K ৳3.7M

-30.02%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$31.9K ৳3.9M

-14.35%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$44.55 ৳5,472

45.75%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.99 ৳490

234.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$11.39 ৳1,400

82.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$6.01 ৳739

572.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.04 ৳496

66.09%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$13.37 ৳1,643

5786.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$673 ৳82.7K

2146.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$7.22 ৳887

678.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$15.12 ৳1,858

65.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$25.92 ৳3,184

257.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$21.12 ৳2,594

255.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$73.4 ৳9,021

558.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$45.75 ৳5,621

527.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$135 ৳16.5K

575.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$98.9 ৳12.2K

436.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$487 ৳59.9K

306.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$2,322 ৳285.2K

-37.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$218 ৳26.7K

178.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.48

-46.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $73.4 in Rajshahi. 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 178% 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 $8.00 in Rajshahi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $120 – making Rajshahi 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 Rajshahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 196% more than Rajshahi, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $482 in Rajshahi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $13.37 in Rajshahi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 102% 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 Rajshahi, where all-in costs run around $321, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Rajshahi 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. Rajshahi costs $321 versus $950 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 Rajshahi. 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.