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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $318 in Rangpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $533 in Rangpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $747 in Rangpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 171% more than Rangpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rangpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rangpur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.67 ৳206

17.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$10.36 ৳1,278

77.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.99 ৳615

49.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 ৳514

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ৳570

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.24 ৳153

62.90%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.32 ৳39.10

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.18 ৳21.83

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.62 ৳77.0

166.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.65 ৳80.5

141.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.60 ৳74.5

98.33%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.23 ৳151

57.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$6.99 ৳862

131.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.50 ৳431

-14.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.21 ৳766

76.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.41 ৳297

12.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.14 ৳141

2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.54 ৳313

-33.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.73 ৳90.0

119.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.41 ৳50.2

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.68 ৳84.1

76.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.36 ৳43.96

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.30 ৳37.21

86.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.51 ৳1,049

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ৳363

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 ৳602

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.60 ৳320

78.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.20 ৳24.63

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$12.25 ৳1,510

57.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.80 ৳98.7

70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.39 ৳48.44

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.66 ৳205

394.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.93 ৳115

31.18%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-25.01%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$14.9K ৳1.8M

50.79%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$26.44 ৳3,260

167.28%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.38 ৳540

220.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$13.00 ৳1,603

34.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$18.94 ৳2,335

122.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.19 ৳1,996

-57.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.13 ৳510

43.34%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$12.21 ৳1,505

2426.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$793 ৳97.7K

1777.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$11.76 ৳1,450

374.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$14.92 ৳1,840

75.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$32.34 ৳3,987

156.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$28.86 ৳3,558

144.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$55.8 ৳6,876

674.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$35.66 ৳4,396

569.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$118 ৳14.5K

596.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$79.7 ৳9,827

542.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$684 ৳84.3K

180.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$144 ৳17.8K

302.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.06

-50.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rangpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $55.8 in Rangpur. 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 302% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Rangpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $118 – making Rangpur 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 Rangpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 171% more than Rangpur, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $477 in Rangpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rangpur, 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 $12.21 in Rangpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 107% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $318 in Rangpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rangpur costs $318 versus $861 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 Rangpur. 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.