Cost of Living Comparison Between Quatre Bornes and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Quatre Bornes and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $809 per month in Quatre Bornes vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,288 per month in Quatre Bornes vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,767 per month in Quatre Bornes vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quatre Bornes is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quatre Bornes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quatre Bornes 41% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 MUR 208
$2.08 ฿69.5
112.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.25 MUR 1,001
$19.61 ฿655
8.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.44 MUR 303
$5.67 ฿189
13.58%
Cappuccino
$2.39 MUR 113
$1.81 ฿60.3
32.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MUR 41.28
$0.77 ฿25.65
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MUR 23.01
$0.35 ฿11.53
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 MUR 127
$2.21 ฿73.9
21.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 MUR 156
$3.79 ฿127
-12.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 MUR 61.5
$2.05 ฿68.4
-36.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 MUR 23.69
$1.51 ฿50.6
-66.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 MUR 54.0
$1.40 ฿46.69
-17.86%
Eggs
$1.94 MUR 91.6
$2.26 ฿75.4
-14.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.91 MUR 137
$16.19 ฿540
-82.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 MUR 179
$2.90 ฿96.7
31.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.47 MUR 399
$9.42 ฿314
-10.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 MUR 129
$2.68 ฿89.4
2.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 MUR 122
$1.09 ฿36.37
138.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 MUR 67.9
$1.62 ฿54.0
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 MUR 142
$1.46 ฿48.74
105.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 MUR 44.14
$1.28 ฿42.65
-26.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 MUR 44.22
$1.06 ฿35.31
-11.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 MUR 33.20
$0.72 ฿23.94
-2.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 MUR 42.32
$0.53 ฿17.56
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.10 MUR 287
$4.23 ฿141
44.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.51 MUR 401
$18.29 ฿611
-53.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 MUR 76.9
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 MUR 107
$2.90 ฿96.8
-22.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MUR 34.29
$0.88 ฿29.32
-17.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.35 MUR 205
$1.17 ฿39.14
271.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.24 MUR 153
$0.58 ฿19.30
458.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.85 MUR 983
$2.39 ฿79.6
772.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 MUR 62.7
$1.45 ฿48.41
-8.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MUR 899.8K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
-9.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K MUR 1.3M
$26.4K ฿882.0K
6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.75 MUR 1,497
$63.7 ฿2,125
-50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.51 MUR 495
$12.89 ฿430
-18.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.29 MUR 1,380
$20.52 ฿685
42.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 MUR 1,359
$39.02 ฿1,302
-26.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.27 MUR 390
$3.92 ฿131
110.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 MUR 292
$6.58 ฿220
-5.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 MUR 5,692
$784 ฿26.2K
-84.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,798 MUR 367.5K
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-46.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4 MUR 3,649
$55.1 ฿1,840
40.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.9 MUR 3,481
$24.74 ฿826
198.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 MUR 5,606
$94.1 ฿3,142
26.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 MUR 3,614
$74.0 ฿2,469
3.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$324 MUR 15.3K
$490 ฿16.4K
-33.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$222 MUR 10.5K
$288 ฿9,620
-23.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 MUR 30.9K
$891 ฿29.8K
-26.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$440 MUR 20.8K
$521 ฿17.4K
-15.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,128 MUR 53.1K
$1,974 ฿65.9K
-42.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quatre Bornes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$513 MUR 24.2K
$602 ฿20.1K
-14.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.57
19.75%

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

Last update for Quatre Bornes: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $324 in Quatre Bornes 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 17% 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 $21.00 in Quatre Bornes versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Quatre Bornes vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Quatre Bornes 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
Quatre Bornes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quatre Bornes or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Quatre Bornes, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Quatre Bornes and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,214 per month in Quatre Bornes and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quatre Bornes or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quatre Bornes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Quatre Bornes and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Quatre Bornes and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Quatre Bornes or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Quatre Bornes or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quatre Bornes, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Quatre Bornes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quatre Bornes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quatre Bornes costs $809 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quatre Bornes 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.
Should I move to Quatre Bornes or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Quatre Bornes. 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.

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