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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,503 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,209 in Yangon (Rangoon), rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Yangon (Rangoon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Yangon (Rangoon) are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Yangon (Rangoon) 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.13 MMK 4,459

-7.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$18.00 MMK 37.7K

1.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.63 MMK 11.8K

32.86%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.09 MMK 4,371

-3.35%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.74 MMK 1,549

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.59 MMK 1,237

-38.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.98 MMK 2,042

118.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.98 MMK 4,143

81.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.91 MMK 3,991

-13.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.00 MMK 2,085

57.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.48 MMK 3,102

-19.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.43 MMK 2,995

35.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.78 MMK 16.3K

108.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.70 MMK 14.0K

-55.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.95 MMK 22.9K

-0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$5.75 MMK 12.0K

-52.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.10 MMK 2,306

6.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.74 MMK 5,729

-38.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.29 MMK 6,896

-51.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.47 MMK 5,175

-44.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.55 MMK 3,247

-22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.30 MMK 2,714

-48.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.33 MMK 699

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.69 MMK 3,537

174.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.06 MMK 19.0K

94.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.97 MMK 2,033

91.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.16 MMK 2,433

184.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.20 MMK 413

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$9.61 MMK 20.1K

101.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.12 MMK 2,343

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.95 MMK 1,999

41.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$3.47 MMK 7,269

136.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$10.42 MMK 21.8K

-88.29%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$37.7K MMK 78.9M

-43.36%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$54.3K MMK 113.6M

-58.49%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$55.7 MMK 116.5K

26.97%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$11.06 MMK 23.1K

26.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$25.31 MMK 53.0K

-30.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$28.87 MMK 60.4K

46.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.62 MMK 24.3K

-40.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.75 MMK 5,761

115.27%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$324 MMK 678.3K

-4.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$15.6K MMK 32.7M

-4.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$79.3 MMK 166.1K

-29.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$64.4 MMK 134.9K

-59.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$96.6 MMK 202.2K

-14.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$144 MMK 301.5K

-51.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$548 MMK 1.1M

-21.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$182 MMK 380.9K

31.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,102 MMK 2.3M

-25.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$850 MMK 1.8M

-39.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,158 MMK 4.5M

-11.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$944 MMK 2.0M

55.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$283 MMK 591.8K

104.96%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $548 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 105% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Yangon (Rangoon). Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $238 in Yangon (Rangoon) – so Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 8% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,196 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $324 in Yangon (Rangoon). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $861. 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 $861 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.