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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $329 in Rangpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $540 in Rangpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Rangpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 164% more than Rangpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rangpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Rangpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.65 ৳202

17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.13 ৳1,241

84.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.78 ৳586

63.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 ৳514

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 ৳593

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.23 ৳150

58.54%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.32 ৳38.63

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.14 ৳17.02

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.67 ৳81.5

155.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.71 ৳86.7

129.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.60 ৳74.0

90.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.21 ৳148

59.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.62 ৳811

144.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.33 ৳409

-6.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.13 ৳751

77.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.43 ৳297

13.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.14 ৳140

6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.64 ৳324

-38.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.68 ৳83.1

133.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.44 ৳53.4

218.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.73 ৳89.8

60.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.35 ৳42.88

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.28 ৳33.79

89.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$5.79 ৳709

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ৳344

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 ৳605

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.48 ৳304

89.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.22 ৳26.96

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$12.55 ৳1,537

53.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.86 ৳105

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.39 ৳47.72

230.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.61 ৳197

386.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.99 ৳122

28.28%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.8K ৳3.5M

-26.14%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$14.7K ৳1.8M

50.96%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$26.94 ৳3,301

156.38%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.28 ৳524

228.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$13.10 ৳1,604

37.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$19.37 ৳2,373

111.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.30 ৳1,997

-57.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.03 ৳494

46.90%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$12.39 ৳1,517

2313.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$800 ৳98.0K

1769.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$11.42 ৳1,399

378.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$15.03 ৳1,842

78.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$32.34 ৳3,962

162.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$29.22 ৳3,580

141.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$55.0 ৳6,732

679.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$36.25 ৳4,441

554.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$121 ৳14.8K

562.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$80.4 ৳9,854

540.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$747 ৳91.6K

164.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$347 ৳42.5K

324.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$160 ৳19.6K

285.74%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rangpur: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $55.0 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 286% 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 $10.00 in Rangpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $116 – 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 164% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $493 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $12.39 in Rangpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 112% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $329 in Rangpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rangpur costs $329 versus $866 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.