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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,176 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,784 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,393 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.14 BAM 12.22

-72.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.96 BAM 61.6

-48.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.80 BAM 15.07

-15.00%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.07 BAM 3.55

-2.42%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.02 BAM 3.46

-57.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-74.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.73 BAM 4.67

-21.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.39 BAM 4.10

50.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.41 BAM 2.41

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.21 BAM 2.08

29.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.04 BAM 3.50

-41.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.25 BAM 5.57

-40.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.46 BAM 17.92

54.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$8.84 BAM 15.14

-66.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.24 BAM 22.67

-17.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.55 BAM 2.65

74.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-37.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-18.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.30 BAM 3.95

-30.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.12 BAM 1.92

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.21 BAM 2.08

-0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-47.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.81 BAM 1.38

-30.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.77 BAM 6.45

23.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.00 BAM 13.70

120.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.05 BAM 1.80

77.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.28 BAM 2.19

157.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.03 BAM 1.77

-14.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$31.73 BAM 54.4

-39.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.49 BAM 2.56

-8.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.77 BAM 1.32

74.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$8.63 BAM 14.78

-4.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.49 BAM 2.55

-18.12%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-19.67%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$25.8K BAM 44.3K

-12.83%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$202 BAM 346

-65.02%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$19.03 BAM 32.60

-26.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$32.94 BAM 56.4

-46.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$35.14 BAM 60.2

19.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.26 BAM 27.85

-57.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.20 BAM 12.33

-17.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$258 BAM 442

19.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,394 BAM 5,813

338.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$91.6 BAM 157

-39.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$37.77 BAM 64.7

-30.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$108 BAM 184

-22.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$101 BAM 172

-29.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$436 BAM 747

-0.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$303 BAM 519

-21.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$892 BAM 1,527

-7.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$580 BAM 994

-11.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,245 BAM 5,559

-41.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,315 BAM 3,965

-36.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,042 BAM 1,784

-44.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

31.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $436 in Sarajevo. 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 80% higher in Sarajevo, 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 $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai 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 Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarajevo costs about 37% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,764 in Sarajevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $258 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Sarajevo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,176 in Sarajevo. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.