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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $347 in Sylhet, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $561 in Sylhet, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $774 in Sylhet, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Sylhet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sylhet are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sylhet 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.07 ৳253

-4.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.54 ৳1,292

78.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.18 ৳512

85.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 ৳494

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 ৳520

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.83 ৳224

4.92%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.31 ৳38.51

154.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ৳20.78

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.76 ৳92.7

117.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.46 ৳56.3

254.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.60 ৳73.9

98.33%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.25 ৳153

60.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.90 ৳846

131.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.45 ৳300

23.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$6.13 ৳751

77.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.15 ৳264

28.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.01 ৳123

16.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.10 ৳257

-21.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.48 ৳58.5

216.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.39 ৳47.43

253.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.62 ৳76.5

91.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ৳39.83

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.28 ৳34.72

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.82 ৳346

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ৳269

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ৳534

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.72 ৳333

68.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.40 ৳48.48

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$16.37 ৳2,006

14.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.85 ৳104

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.34 ৳41.95

294.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.52 ৳186

415.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.99 ৳121

24.24%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.7K ৳3.5M

-24.54%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.0K ৳3.1M

-9.72%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$30.06 ৳3,684

134.66%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.72 ৳579

189.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.04 ৳1,598

33.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$9.83 ৳1,204

320.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.96 ৳976

-12.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.00 ৳491

44.25%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$36.96 ৳4,529

730.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$953 ৳116.8K

1432.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$13.96 ৳1,711

299.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$17.20 ৳2,107

52.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$38.54 ৳4,722

122.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$36.09 ৳4,422

100.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$70.3 ৳8,615

511.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$59.6 ৳7,303

300.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$164 ৳20.1K

397.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$113 ৳13.8K

352.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$696 ৳85.3K

184.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$351 ৳43.0K

322.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$222 ৳27.1K

179.38%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sylhet: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $70.3 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 179% 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: $241 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 150% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $521 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.96 in Sylhet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 128% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $347 in Sylhet, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sylhet costs $347 versus $869 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.