Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yangon (Rangoon) Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yangon (Rangoon)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,534 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,270 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Yangon (Rangoon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Yangon (Rangoon) are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Yangon (Rangoon) 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.17 MMK 4,537

-10.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$17.80 MMK 37.3K

4.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.47 MMK 11.5K

42.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.09 MMK 4,366

-6.70%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.79 MMK 1,652

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.61 MMK 1,268

-42.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.98 MMK 2,059

117.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.03 MMK 4,246

83.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.83 MMK 3,824

-6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.96 MMK 2,010

69.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.45 MMK 3,045

-21.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.41 MMK 2,945

36.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.78 MMK 16.3K

108.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.90 MMK 14.4K

-54.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.08 MMK 23.2K

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$5.53 MMK 11.6K

-50.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.10 MMK 2,312

10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.82 MMK 5,899

-42.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.19 MMK 6,683

-50.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.61 MMK 5,454

-46.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.55 MMK 3,245

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.35 MMK 2,822

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.33 MMK 696

60.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.60 MMK 3,340

193.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.17 MMK 19.2K

103.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.92 MMK 1,930

95.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.20 MMK 2,503

169.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 MMK 414

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$9.86 MMK 20.6K

94.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.09 MMK 2,280

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.91 MMK 1,903

41.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.53 MMK 7,381

122.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$10.76 MMK 22.5K

-88.20%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$38.6K MMK 80.8M

-44.86%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$54.2K MMK 113.6M

-59.05%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$54.4 MMK 113.8K

27.04%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.04 MMK 23.1K

27.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$24.70 MMK 51.7K

-27.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$28.12 MMK 58.9K

46.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.64 MMK 24.4K

-40.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.67 MMK 5,597

121.72%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$322 MMK 674.5K

-7.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$15.7K MMK 32.8M

-4.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$79.5 MMK 166.4K

-31.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$64.7 MMK 135.5K

-58.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$96.3 MMK 201.5K

-11.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$142 MMK 297.6K

-50.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$533 MMK 1.1M

-19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$180 MMK 377.7K

31.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,119 MMK 2.3M

-28.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$852 MMK 1.8M

-39.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,120 MMK 4.4M

-6.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$921 MMK 1.9M

60.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$284 MMK 595.4K

117.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-54.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $533 in Yangon (Rangoon). 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 117% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Yangon (Rangoon). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $237 – making Yangon (Rangoon) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Yangon (Rangoon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Yangon (Rangoon), with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,197 in Yangon (Rangoon). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yangon (Rangoon), 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 $322 in Yangon (Rangoon). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yangon (Rangoon), where all-in costs run around $798, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Yangon (Rangoon) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yangon (Rangoon) costs $798 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 Yangon (Rangoon). 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.