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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $356 in Sylhet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $569 in Sylhet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Sylhet, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Sylhet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sylhet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sylhet 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.02 ৳250

0.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$10.63 ৳1,314

76.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.00 ৳494

96.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 ৳521

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ৳538

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.81 ৳224

12.15%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.32 ৳39.00

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.19 ৳23.60

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.75 ৳93.1

130.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.46 ৳57.1

241.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.66 ৳81.0

81.82%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.20 ৳148

64.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.80 ৳841

138.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.49 ৳308

22.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$6.39 ৳790

69.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.17 ৳268

27.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.02 ৳125

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.06 ৳255

-16.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.47 ৳57.6

238.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.36 ৳43.99

286.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.65 ৳80.4

78.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.35 ৳43.63

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.28 ৳34.74

85.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.91 ৳360

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 ৳274

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 ৳536

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.63 ৳325

76.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.42 ৳52.4

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$16.48 ৳2,037

13.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.86 ৳106

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.32 ৳39.43

318.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.52 ৳188

433.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.92 ৳113

33.70%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$29.0K ৳3.6M

-26.05%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$25.5K ৳3.2M

-14.40%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$30.33 ৳3,748

135.18%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.63 ৳572

202.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$13.15 ৳1,625

36.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$9.56 ৳1,182

326.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$8.15 ৳1,007

-15.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.16 ৳514

37.50%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$37.49 ৳4,633

722.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$952 ৳117.6K

1442.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$13.95 ৳1,724

299.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$16.66 ৳2,059

56.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$37.45 ৳4,628

126.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$36.81 ৳4,549

92.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$69.2 ৳8,551

511.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$59.5 ৳7,346

307.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$165 ৳20.3K

384.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$112 ৳13.9K

350.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$709 ৳87.7K

170.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$351 ৳43.3K

317.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$223 ৳27.6K

166.66%

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 Sylhet: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $69.2 in Sylhet. 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 167% 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 $11.00 in Sylhet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $106 – making Sylhet 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 Sylhet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 139% more than Sylhet, 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 $534 in Sylhet. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sylhet, 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 $37.49 in Sylhet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 130% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $356 in Sylhet, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sylhet costs $356 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 Sylhet. 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.