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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $967 in Visoko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,524 in Visoko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,080 in Visoko, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Visoko, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Visoko are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Visoko 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$8.83 BAM 14.84

-76.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$41.30 BAM 69.4

-52.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$8.95 BAM 15.04

-36.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.09 BAM 3.51

-13.40%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$2.21 BAM 3.72

-67.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$1.46 BAM 2.46

-78.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.75 BAM 4.61

-18.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.91 BAM 4.89

24.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.23 BAM 2.07

59.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.24 BAM 2.09

20.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.77 BAM 2.97

-24.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.97 BAM 4.99

-23.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$9.78 BAM 16.43

66.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$8.02 BAM 13.49

-63.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$14.26 BAM 23.97

-30.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.52 BAM 2.55

69.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.76 BAM 2.96

-39.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.81 BAM 3.05

-11.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$2.11 BAM 3.55

-27.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.00 BAM 1.68

27.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.24 BAM 2.08

-13.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.13 BAM 1.89

-36.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.72 BAM 1.21

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.96 BAM 6.66

5.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.26 BAM 13.88

116.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.89 BAM 1.50

89.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.45 BAM 2.44

95.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$1.32 BAM 2.22

-29.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$17.83 BAM 29.97

202.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.51 BAM 2.54

-18.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.16 BAM 1.95

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$8.82 BAM 14.82

-72.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.69 BAM 2.85

-16.57%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$31.0K BAM 52.1K

-30.83%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$24.3K BAM 40.9K

12.39%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$167 BAM 281

-61.89%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$16.61 BAM 27.93

-22.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$29.22 BAM 49.12

-30.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$33.43 BAM 56.2

15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$7.80 BAM 13.11

-49.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.08 BAM 10.22

10.86%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$214 BAM 360

263.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$3,638 BAM 6,115

301.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$87.4 BAM 147

-37.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$37.90 BAM 63.7

-32.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$94.1 BAM 158

0.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$117 BAM 196

-36.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$194 BAM 326

152.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$149 BAM 250

94.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$325 BAM 546

175.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$277 BAM 466

86.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,735 BAM 2,916

12.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,331 BAM 2,237

10.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$902 BAM 1,515

-33.21%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Visoko: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $194 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 50% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Visoko. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $234 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

Visoko costs about 2% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,451 in Visoko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $214 in Visoko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Visoko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Visoko at $967. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Visoko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $967 in Visoko. 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 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.