Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istočno Sarajevo and Chiang Mai

For one person, living costs are similar in Istočno Sarajevo and in Chiang Mai: $891 and $925 a month, rent and utilities included.

Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Istočno Sarajevo
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$891
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istočno Sarajevo and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Istočno Sarajevo and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $891 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Istočno Sarajevo $891
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Istočno Sarajevo $1,356
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,821 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Istočno Sarajevo $1,821
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Istočno Sarajevo is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Istočno Sarajevo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Istočno Sarajevo 34% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.59 BAM 14.99
$2.29 ฿77.2
275.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.38 BAM 65.2
$19.64 ฿663
90.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.83 BAM 11.92
$5.61 ฿189
21.75%
Cappuccino
$1.70 BAM 2.96
$1.66 ฿56.1
2.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 BAM 3.45
$0.70 ฿23.62
182.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 BAM 2.45
$0.31 ฿10.33
351.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 BAM 4.06
$2.41 ฿81.2
-3.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 BAM 3.91
$3.71 ฿125
-39.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 BAM 2.55
$1.95 ฿65.9
-25.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 BAM 2.29
$1.41 ฿47.48
-6.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 BAM 3.69
$1.31 ฿44.04
61.83%
Eggs
$3.15 BAM 5.49
$2.18 ฿73.6
44.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.23 BAM 17.85
$16.65 ฿562
-38.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.66 BAM 13.37
$2.76 ฿93.1
177.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.03 BAM 24.48
$9.11 ฿307
54.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 BAM 2.46
$2.39 ฿80.7
-41.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 BAM 2.75
$1.03 ฿34.59
53.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 BAM 2.63
$1.63 ฿54.9
-7.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 BAM 2.92
$1.50 ฿50.5
11.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 BAM 1.60
$1.29 ฿43.54
-28.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 BAM 1.93
$1.11 ฿37.38
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 BAM 1.87
$0.72 ฿24.31
48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 BAM 1.72
$0.53 ฿17.76
84.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 BAM 6.82
$4.31 ฿145
-9.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.20 BAM 14.31
$17.95 ฿605
-54.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 BAM 1.52
$1.58 ฿53.4
-44.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 BAM 2.71
$2.84 ฿95.9
-45.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.30 BAM 2.27
$0.86 ฿29.14
51.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,798
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 BAM 2.47
$1.21 ฿40.67
17.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 BAM 2.02
$0.57 ฿19.17
103.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 BAM 15.35
$2.35 ฿79.4
274.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 BAM 2.76
$1.44 ฿48.42
9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K BAM 52.0K
$20.7K ฿699.4K
43.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K BAM 37.7K
$26.8K ฿904.2K
-19.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.8 BAM 158
$62.3 ฿2,103
45.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.16 BAM 31.68
$12.11 ฿409
49.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.46 BAM 47.91
$19.94 ฿673
37.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.45 BAM 58.4
$37.07 ฿1,251
-9.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.90 BAM 24.25
$3.78 ฿127
267.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.64 BAM 9.83
$6.50 ฿219
-13.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 BAM 233
$793 ฿26.7K
-83.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,824 BAM 6,671
$14.8K ฿499.6K
-74.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9 BAM 153
$53.7 ฿1,813
63.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.68 BAM 55.3
$24.62 ฿831
28.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 BAM 155
$90.9 ฿3,065
-2.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1 BAM 171
$71.1 ฿2,400
37.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 BAM 375
$455 ฿15.4K
-52.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 BAM 322
$298 ฿10.0K
-38.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 BAM 442
$908 ฿30.6K
-72.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 BAM 372
$554 ฿18.7K
-61.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,722 BAM 3,003
$1,931 ฿65.1K
-10.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,356 BAM 2,365
$1,445 ฿48.7K
-6.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istočno Sarajevo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$712 BAM 1,243
$591 ฿19.9K
20.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
5.57
-26.75%

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

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Istočno Sarajevo
$236
Chiang Mai
$235 0.1% $0.3
Accommodation & Living
Istočno Sarajevo
$185
Chiang Mai
$298 61.3% $113
Eating Out
Istočno Sarajevo
$139
Chiang Mai
$79 43.5% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Istočno Sarajevo
$138
Chiang Mai
$108 21.6% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istočno Sarajevo
$136
Chiang Mai
$94 30.8% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Istočno Sarajevo
$45
Chiang Mai
$50 11.9% $5.3
Getting Around
Istočno Sarajevo
$12 *
Chiang Mai
$61 390% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $455 in Chiang Mai. 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 21% higher in Istočno Sarajevo, 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 $37 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $20 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇦 Istočno Sarajevo
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
00:58 12:58 AM
06:58 6:58 AM
6 h ahead of Istočno Sarajevo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,642
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to BAM – Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark Converter

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.573 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.8 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istočno Sarajevo Chiang Mai 7,830 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istočno Sarajevo
  • Chiang Mai

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
Istočno Sarajevo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Istočno Sarajevo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Istočno Sarajevo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Istočno Sarajevo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,337 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Istočno Sarajevo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Istočno Sarajevo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $215 there versus $455 in Chiang Mai.
How much does it cost to live in Istočno Sarajevo compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $891 in Istočno Sarajevo and $925 in Chiang Mai. That’s a gap of about 4%.
How do dining costs compare in Istočno Sarajevo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Istočno Sarajevo and $20 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Istočno Sarajevo or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $891 in Istočno Sarajevo and $925 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Istočno Sarajevo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Istočno Sarajevo compared to Chiang Mai?
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.

Istočno Sarajevo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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