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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $962 in Visoko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,467 in Visoko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,972 in Visoko, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Visoko, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Visoko are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Visoko 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$8.18 BAM 14.01
-76.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$36.08 BAM 61.8
-49.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$8.60 BAM 14.72
-13.02%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.08 BAM 3.57
-2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$2.03 BAM 3.47
-58.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$1.19 BAM 2.04
-69.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$2.67 BAM 4.58
-19.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.31 BAM 3.96
55.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.36 BAM 2.33
21.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$1.22 BAM 2.09
28.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$2.14 BAM 3.66
-44.39%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$2.86 BAM 4.90
-32.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$10.26 BAM 17.57
57.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$8.52 BAM 14.59
-64.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$12.19 BAM 20.88
-10.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$1.41 BAM 2.41
92.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$1.65 BAM 2.83
-29.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.86 BAM 3.19
-9.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$2.15 BAM 3.68
-25.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.07 BAM 1.83
28.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$1.19 BAM 2.04
0.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$1.23 BAM 2.11
-45.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$0.77 BAM 1.31
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$3.66 BAM 6.28
26.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$8.34 BAM 14.29
111.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$0.70 BAM 1.21
165.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.13 BAM 1.93
192.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$2.16 BAM 3.70
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$8.93 BAM 15.29
116.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$1.49 BAM 2.55
-8.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$1.10 BAM 1.88
21.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$8.84 BAM 15.14
-7.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.56 BAM 2.67
-21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$26.6K BAM 45.6K
-19.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$26.7K BAM 45.7K
-15.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$174 BAM 298
-59.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$18.60 BAM 31.85
-24.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$23.91 BAM 40.95
-26.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$29.56 BAM 50.6
42.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$5.96 BAM 10.21
15.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$5.84 BAM 10.01
1.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$237 BAM 406
30.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$3,365 BAM 5,763
342.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$75.3 BAM 129
-25.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$37.07 BAM 63.5
-29.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$90.5 BAM 155
-8.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$120 BAM 206
-41.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$176 BAM 301
145.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$149 BAM 256
59.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$298 BAM 511
175.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$269 BAM 461
90.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$1,720 BAM 2,946
11.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$1,334 BAM 2,285
9.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Visoko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$889 BAM 1,522
-34.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.5
11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Visoko: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $176 in Visoko. 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 Visoko, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Visoko. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Visoko – so Visoko 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 Visoko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Visoko?
Visoko costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Visoko?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,443 in Visoko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Visoko?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Visoko?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $237 in Visoko. 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 Visoko?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Visoko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Visoko?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $962 in Visoko, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Visoko?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $962 in Visoko. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Visoko?
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 Visoko?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Visoko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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