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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Trebinje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,372 in Trebinje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,886 in Trebinje, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Trebinje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Trebinje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Trebinje 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.23 BAM 13.83

-76.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$28.49 BAM 47.87

-34.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.76 BAM 14.72

-10.73%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.15 BAM 1.93

69.57%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.73 BAM 2.90

-50.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-70.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.00 BAM 3.37

6.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.78 BAM 3.00

109.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.21 BAM 2.04

41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.91 BAM 1.53

79.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-30.91%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.70 BAM 4.54

-28.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.50 BAM 15.96

70.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.78 BAM 9.72

-46.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.19 BAM 20.48

-10.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.28 BAM 2.15

114.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.56 BAM 2.63

-22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.16 BAM 1.94

39.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.95 BAM 1.59

47.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.87 BAM 1.46

-24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.67 BAM 1.13

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.56 BAM 5.98

31.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.98 BAM 10.04

212.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.76 BAM 1.27

136.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.08 BAM 1.82

199.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.76 BAM 2.95

-48.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$34.93 BAM 58.7

-45.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.15 BAM 1.94

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.51 BAM 0.86

152.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.60 BAM 14.46

-8.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.46 BAM 2.46

-13.01%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.3K BAM 47.6K

-24.85%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.8K BAM 45.0K

-17.03%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$85.9 BAM 144

-19.57%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$19.10 BAM 32.10

-26.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.44 BAM 39.38

-23.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$33.46 BAM 56.2

22.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.81 BAM 18.16

-35.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.87 BAM 4.82

106.27%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$116 BAM 195

158.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,670 BAM 6,167

307.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$74.0 BAM 124

-26.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$36.02 BAM 60.5

-25.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$90.0 BAM 151

-5.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$120 BAM 201

-40.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$299 BAM 503

43.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$179 BAM 301

32.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$523 BAM 879

53.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$383 BAM 643

34.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,603 BAM 4,374

-24.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,814 BAM 3,048

-18.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$887 BAM 1,491

-30.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

-0.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Trebinje: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $299 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Trebinje. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Trebinje – so Trebinje wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Trebinje, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,287 in Trebinje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in Trebinje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $858 in Trebinje, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Trebinje costs $858 versus $866 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 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.