Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tuzla

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Tuzla: $906 and $893 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Tuzla
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$893
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Tuzla actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $893 in Tuzla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $906
  • Tuzla $893

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,333 in Tuzla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,385
  • Tuzla $1,333

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,772 in Tuzla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,864
  • Tuzla $1,772

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Tuzla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tuzla are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Tuzla 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$5.12 BAM 8.93
-58.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$31.01 BAM 54.1
-37.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$5.56 BAM 9.70
-1.62%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$1.82 BAM 3.17
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.96 BAM 3.42
-66.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$1.20 BAM 2.09
-71.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$2.59 BAM 4.52
-6.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.18 BAM 3.81
71.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.13 BAM 1.96
82.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$0.96 BAM 1.68
52.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$2.00 BAM 3.49
-32.50%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$2.67 BAM 4.65
-14.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$7.92 BAM 13.83
105.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$7.06 BAM 12.31
-61.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$10.64 BAM 18.57
-13.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$1.14 BAM 1.99
109.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.59 BAM 2.77
-34.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.41 BAM 2.46
13.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$1.14 BAM 1.98
26.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.99 BAM 1.72
31.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.99 BAM 1.73
12.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.71 BAM 1.24
-1.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.68 BAM 1.18
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$3.75 BAM 6.54
10.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$4.09 BAM 7.14
334.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$0.80 BAM 1.39
103.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$0.88 BAM 1.54
226.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.40 BAM 2.44
-38.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$48.16 BAM 84.0
10.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.74 BAM 3.04
-29.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.59 BAM 1.04
-5.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$5.86 BAM 10.22
-60.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.54 BAM 2.68
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$30.7K BAM 53.6K
-32.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$21.0K BAM 36.7K
27.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$136 BAM 237
-54.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$17.68 BAM 30.85
-29.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$26.16 BAM 45.65
-22.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$32.28 BAM 56.3
17.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$8.62 BAM 15.03
-56.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$5.63 BAM 9.83
17.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$197 BAM 343
293.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$2,279 BAM 3,976
533.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$59.1 BAM 103
-7.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$32.61 BAM 56.9
-22.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$84.4 BAM 147
7.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$82.5 BAM 144
-11.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$258 BAM 450
77.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$193 BAM 336
52.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$517 BAM 903
77.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$269 BAM 470
104.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$2,406 BAM 4,198
-20.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$1,783 BAM 3,111
-18.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tuzla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$907 BAM 1,582
-34.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.33
28.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Tuzla: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Tuzla
$193 34.4% $101
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Tuzla
$187 20.8% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Tuzla
$116 6.1% $6.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Tuzla
$180 91% $86
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Tuzla
$109 41.6% $32
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Tuzla
$58 3.5% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Tuzla
$44 14.8% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $258 in Tuzla. 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 53% higher in Tuzla, 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 $31.00 in Tuzla. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $187 in Tuzla – so Tuzla wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇧🇦 Tuzla
🕒 Local time
21:22 9:22 PM
16:22 4:22 PM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
74,475
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.573 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Tuzla 7,800 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Tuzla

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 Tuzla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tuzla?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Tuzla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Tuzla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,340 in Tuzla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tuzla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuzla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Tuzla?
Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $197 in Tuzla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Tuzla?
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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Tuzla?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuzla, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Tuzla 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 Tuzla?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tuzla costs $893 versus $906 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 Tuzla?
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 Tuzla?
If budget matters most, go with Tuzla. 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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