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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $304 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $493 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $681 in Rajshahi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 186% more than Rajshahi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rajshahi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Rajshahi 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$0.79 ৳96.2

150.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$9.27 ৳1,136

102.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.95 ৳361

162.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.18 ৳512

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ৳279

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.48 ৳181

29.73%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.34 ৳41.82

132.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.15 ৳18.48

140.00%

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

$0.66 ৳80.5

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.71 ৳87.2

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.63 ৳76.6

88.89%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.16 ৳142

72.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.96 ৳852

129.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.41 ৳417

-11.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.74 ৳825

61.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.20 ৳269

25.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.09 ৳133

8.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.27 ৳278

-27.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.84 ৳103

80.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.47 ৳57.7

193.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.55 ৳67.5

116.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ৳40.34

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.30 ৳37.04

86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.12 ৳1,485

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ৳205

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ৳255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.81 ৳344

62.99%

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

$0.09 ৳10.93

877.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.10 ৳1,238

85.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.26 ৳154

7.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.42 ৳51.7

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.92 ৳113

752.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.96 ৳117

28.13%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.2K ৳3.5M

-23.36%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$27.9K ৳3.4M

-19.09%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$31.16 ৳3,819

126.38%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.67 ৳573

192.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.19 ৳1,616

32.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$5.59 ৳685

639.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.64 ৳1,427

-40.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.11 ৳504

40.39%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$20.55 ৳2,519

1394.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$670 ৳82.1K

2079.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$12.72 ৳1,559

338.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$14.84 ৳1,819

76.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$26.27 ৳3,219

226.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$29.71 ৳3,641

143.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$65.1 ৳7,980

559.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$38.34 ৳4,698

522.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$136 ৳16.7K

500.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$85.5 ৳10.5K

497.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$488 ৳59.8K

306.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$2,299 ৳281.7K

-35.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$216 ৳26.5K

186.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.83

-43.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $65.1 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 186% 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 $9.00 in Rajshahi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $117 – 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 186% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $456 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.55 in Rajshahi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 106% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $304 in Rajshahi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rajshahi costs $304 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 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.