Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,933 per month in Kuala Belait vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,865 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,797 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 104% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuala Belait sits 41% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 BND 9.72

$2.08 ฿69.2

267.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BND 60.1

$19.64 ฿651

140.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 BND 10.05

$5.65 ฿188

40.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BND 3.78

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 BND 3.07

Cappuccino

$4.64 BND 5.90

$1.81 ฿59.9

156.35%

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

$1.28 BND 1.63

$0.71 ฿23.66

80.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 BND 1.17

$0.32 ฿10.48

187.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$2.54 BND 3.22

$1.96 ฿65.0

29.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 BND 3.11

$1.50 ฿49.83

62.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.84

$1.34 ฿44.32

66.42%

Eggs

$2.71 BND 3.44

$2.26 ฿75.1

19.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.98 BND 24.13

$16.26 ฿539

16.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.60 BND 12.20

$2.95 ฿98.0

225.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.17 BND 31.99

$9.94 ฿330

153.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 BND 5.91

$2.57 ฿85.3

80.93%

Banana (1kg)

$6.53 BND 8.29

$1.06 ฿35.04

516.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 BND 6.44

$1.61 ฿53.5

214.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 BND 8.94

$1.52 ฿50.4

363.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 BND 4.18

$1.27 ฿42.14

159.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 BND 3.70

$1.07 ฿35.37

171.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.47 BND 6.96

$0.72 ฿23.89

659.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 BND 1.61

$0.51 ฿16.87

149.02%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.57 BND 14.71

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.94 BND 7.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.78 BND 9.89

$4.19 ฿139

85.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.45

$1.41 ฿46.84

-74.47%

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

$31.3K BND 39.7K

$21.4K ฿711.3K

45.74%

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

$27.0K BND 34.3K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

-1.24%

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

$39.36 BND 50.0

$63.7 ฿2,112

-38.18%

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

$21.33 BND 27.11

$12.85 ฿426

65.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$176 BND 223

$20.22 ฿671

769.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 BND 127

$38.74 ฿1,285

158.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 BND 35.49

$3.97 ฿132

603.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 BND 6.86

$6.74 ฿223

-20.03%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,270 BND 11.8K

$14.6K ฿484.6K

-36.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$54.3 ฿1,801

82.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$102 BND 129

$25.45 ฿844

298.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$156 BND 199

$94.3 ฿3,129

65.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$176 BND 224

$73.4 ฿2,436

140.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 BND 959

$490 ฿16.2K

54.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 BND 986

$289 ฿9,596

168.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 BND 1,519

$894 ฿29.6K

33.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 BND 1,477

$517 ฿17.1K

124.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,423 BND 4,350

$602 ฿20.0K

468.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Kuala Belait versus $490 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 468% higher in Kuala Belait, 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 $47.00 in Kuala Belait versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $240 – making Chiang Mai 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

Kuala Belait vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Belait costs about 104% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,900 per month in Kuala Belait and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,933 in Kuala Belait and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Kuala Belait, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Kuala Belait at $1,933. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,933 in Kuala Belait. 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, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.