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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,206 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,811 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,416 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$7.21 BAM 12.15

-73.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.65 BAM 60.1

-47.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.96 BAM 15.10

-12.72%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.04 BAM 3.43

-4.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.01 BAM 3.39

-57.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.42 BAM 2.39

-75.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.69 BAM 4.54

-20.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.32 BAM 3.91

60.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.43 BAM 2.40

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.21 BAM 2.04

34.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.08 BAM 3.51

-45.19%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.24 BAM 5.47

-40.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.29 BAM 17.34

57.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.86 BAM 14.92

-64.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.44 BAM 22.64

-18.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.55 BAM 2.60

77.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.87 BAM 3.15

-35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.05 BAM 3.45

-20.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.29 BAM 3.86

-30.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.12 BAM 1.88

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.76 BAM 1.28

-30.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.76 BAM 6.34

24.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$8.33 BAM 14.03

124.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.04 BAM 1.76

73.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.31 BAM 2.21

146.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$1.08 BAM 1.82

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$31.31 BAM 52.7

-38.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.78 BAM 1.32

65.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.08 BAM 15.29

-13.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.52 BAM 2.55

-16.45%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.7K BAM 45.1K

-20.44%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$25.9K BAM 43.7K

-14.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$197 BAM 332

-64.91%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$19.00 BAM 32.01

-25.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$33.37 BAM 56.2

-46.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$35.64 BAM 60.1

15.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.44 BAM 27.70

-57.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.94 BAM 11.70

-14.70%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$255 BAM 429

17.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$3,323 BAM 5,599

349.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$91.3 BAM 154

-40.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$36.66 BAM 61.8

-26.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$108 BAM 183

-21.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$99.9 BAM 168

-29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$432 BAM 728

-0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$313 BAM 527

-24.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$877 BAM 1,478

-8.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$600 BAM 1,011

-14.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,430 BAM 5,779

-42.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,383 BAM 4,014

-38.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,064 BAM 1,793

-41.98%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $432 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 72% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 39% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,808 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $255 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Sarajevo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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 $866 versus $1,206 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.