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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $850 in Tesanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,310 in Tesanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,769 in Tesanj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Tesanj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.45 BAM 5.91

-43.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$16.59 BAM 28.41

10.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$2.89 BAM 4.95

158.82%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.92 BAM 1.57

119.57%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.43 BAM 2.46

-40.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.91 BAM 1.56

-60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.01 BAM 3.44

6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.75 BAM 2.99

105.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.81 BAM 1.39

103.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.92 BAM 1.57

70.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-48.26%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.89 BAM 4.95

-32.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.17 BAM 17.41

59.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.50 BAM 12.85

-60.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.13 BAM 22.49

-16.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.25 BAM 2.14

116.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.62 BAM 2.78

-27.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.93 BAM 3.30

-12.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.68 BAM 2.87

-4.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.84 BAM 1.43

64.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.75 BAM 1.28

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.92 BAM 1.57

-27.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.02 BAM 1.74

-45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.61 BAM 6.18

28.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.06 BAM 13.80

118.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.22 BAM 2.08

52.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.96 BAM 3.36

68.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.82 BAM 3.12

-51.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$35.82 BAM 61.4

-46.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.16 BAM 1.98

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.56 BAM 0.96

139.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$10.47 BAM 17.93

-21.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-17.57%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.1K BAM 39.6K

-7.65%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$26.1K BAM 44.7K

-13.65%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$124 BAM 212

-42.91%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$19.14 BAM 32.78

-26.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$28.79 BAM 49.31

-39.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$29.97 BAM 51.3

40.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.05 BAM 18.93

-37.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.97 BAM 5.09

99.33%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$151 BAM 258

104.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,244 BAM 5,556

358.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$70.3 BAM 120

-20.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$34.36 BAM 58.9

-24.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$97.4 BAM 167

-14.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$117 BAM 201

-39.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$255 BAM 438

69.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$170 BAM 291

40.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$363 BAM 621

126.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$315 BAM 540

62.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,468 BAM 4,228

-22.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,816 BAM 3,111

-19.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$687 BAM 1,177

-15.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

20.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tesanj: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $255 in Tesanj. 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 19% higher in Tesanj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Tesanj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $224 – making Tesanj 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 Tesanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Tesanj, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,276 in Tesanj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tesanj, 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 $151 in Tesanj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $850 in Tesanj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tesanj costs $850 versus $861 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 Tesanj. 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.