Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Trebinje

For one person, living is cheaper in Trebinje: $852 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $880 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Trebinje
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$852
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Trebinje

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Trebinje actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Trebinje, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Trebinje $852

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,342 in Trebinje, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Trebinje $1,342

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,833 in Trebinje, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Trebinje $1,833

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Trebinje, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Trebinje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Trebinje 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$9.11 BAM 15.84
-74.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$31.46 BAM 54.7
-37.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$10.72 BAM 18.64
-47.67%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$1.24 BAM 2.16
33.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$1.86 BAM 3.23
-62.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$1.35 BAM 2.35
-77.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$2.33 BAM 4.05
3.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$2.32 BAM 4.03
59.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.13 BAM 1.97
72.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$1.03 BAM 1.79
36.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$1.60 BAM 2.78
-18.13%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$2.38 BAM 4.13
-8.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$9.51 BAM 16.54
75.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$6.67 BAM 11.60
-58.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$11.12 BAM 19.34
-18.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$1.23 BAM 2.14
94.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.65 BAM 2.87
-37.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.21 BAM 2.11
34.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$1.69 BAM 2.94
-11.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.91 BAM 1.58
41.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$1.25 BAM 2.17
-11.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$0.90 BAM 1.56
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.60 BAM 1.04
-11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$3.58 BAM 6.23
20.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$5.63 BAM 9.79
218.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$0.69 BAM 1.20
128.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$1.28 BAM 2.22
121.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$1.12 BAM 1.95
8.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$0.60 BAM 1.04
-5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$17.27 BAM 30.03
-86.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.57 BAM 2.74
-8.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$30.4K BAM 52.9K
-31.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$20.8K BAM 36.1K
28.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$83.6 BAM 145
-25.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$16.64 BAM 28.94
-27.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$26.97 BAM 46.89
-26.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$33.21 BAM 57.7
11.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
$14.42 BAM 25.08
-73.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$2.83 BAM 4.92
129.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$155 BAM 269
412.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$3,565 BAM 6,198
315.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$82.3 BAM 143
-34.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$36.61 BAM 63.7
-32.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$96.2 BAM 167
-5.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$101 BAM 175
-29.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$282 BAM 490
61.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
$195 BAM 339
52.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
$508 BAM 883
78.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
$360 BAM 625
54.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
$2,524 BAM 4,389
-23.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
$1,770 BAM 3,077
-18.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Trebinje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
$850 BAM 1,479
-30.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.44
25.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Trebinje: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Trebinje
$195 34.6% $103
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Trebinje
$195 17% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Trebinje
$142 31.3% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Trebinje
$127 34.8% $33
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Trebinje
$149 89.7% $70
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Trebinje
$4.1 * 93.2% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Trebinje
$39 22.4% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $282 in Trebinje. 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 44% higher in Trebinje, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Trebinje. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Trebinje – so Trebinje wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇦 Trebinje
🕒 Local time
21:24 9:24 PM
16:24 4:24 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
25,589
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Trebinje 7,850 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Trebinje

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Trebinje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Trebinje?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Trebinje, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Trebinje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,277 in Trebinje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Trebinje?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Trebinje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Trebinje?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $31.00 in Trebinje. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Trebinje?
Groceries cost about 21% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Trebinje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Trebinje, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Trebinje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Trebinje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Trebinje costs $852 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Trebinje?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Trebinje?
If budget matters most, go with Trebinje. 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.

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