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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $306 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $498 in Rajshahi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Rajshahi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Rajshahi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rajshahi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rajshahi 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$0.80 ৳98.3

155.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$8.81 ৳1,088

112.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$2.79 ৳344

181.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 ৳509

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ৳289

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.46 ৳181

39.04%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.32 ৳39.28

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.19 ৳23.43

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.70 ৳86.0

147.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.69 ৳85.4

127.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.62 ৳76.3

93.55%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.11 ৳137

77.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$6.64 ৳819

144.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.44 ৳425

-11.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$6.66 ৳823

62.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.22 ৳274

24.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.12 ৳139

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$2.31 ৳285

-25.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.79 ৳97.3

101.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.46 ৳56.9

202.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.55 ৳68.5

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.35 ৳43.51

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.28 ৳34.11

85.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.13 ৳1,498

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 ৳197

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ৳255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.95 ৳365

57.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.10 ৳12.02

810.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$10.37 ৳1,280

79.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.24 ৳154

13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.39 ৳48.58

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$0.86 ৳106

843.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$0.90 ৳112

36.67%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$29.2K ৳3.6M

-26.51%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$28.1K ৳3.5M

-22.28%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$30.57 ৳3,775

133.33%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$4.81 ৳594

191.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$12.89 ৳1,591

39.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$5.44 ৳671

650.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.81 ৳1,458

-41.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.16 ৳514

37.50%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$20.36 ৳2,514

1414.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$674 ৳83.2K

2079.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$13.00 ৳1,605

329.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$14.88 ৳1,838

75.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$26.16 ৳3,231

224.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$29.45 ৳3,636

141.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$66.5 ৳8,212

536.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$39.00 ৳4,816

521.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$136 ৳16.8K

486.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$85.7 ৳10.6K

491.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$495 ৳61.1K

287.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$2,322 ৳286.7K

-36.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$213 ৳26.3K

179.52%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $66.5 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 180% 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: $244 vs $116 – 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 178% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $459 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.36 in Rajshahi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 110% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $306 in Rajshahi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rajshahi costs $306 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 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.