Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Serowe and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Serowe: $79.9 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Serowe

🇧🇼 Botswana

$79.9

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Serowe 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 Serowe and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $80 per month in Serowe vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Serowe $80
Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $140 per month in Serowe vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Serowe $140
Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $200 per month in Serowe vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Serowe $200
Chiang Mai $1,999

Serowe is about 91% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Serowe and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Serowe 94% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

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

$0.65 ฿21.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 P 18.28

$2.02 ฿68.0

-32.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 P 14.87

$1.41 ฿47.51

-21.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

Eggs

$1.76 P 23.69

$2.37 ฿79.9

-25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 P 55.8

$9.02 ฿304

-53.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 P 17.92

$2.40 ฿80.9

-44.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 P 13.90

$1.04 ฿35.13

-0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 P 21.24

$1.56 ฿52.6

1.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 P 19.74

$1.24 ฿41.76

18.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 P 17.96

$1.09 ฿36.66

22.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 P 8.91

$0.51 ฿17.35

29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.69

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

$21.0K ฿708.9K

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

$26.5K ฿894.6K

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

$62.6 ฿2,111

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

$11.60 ฿392

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

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

$107 P 1,446

$727 ฿24.5K

-85.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,739 P 23.4K

$16.6K ฿559.2K

-89.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

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 Serowe: October 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Groceries & Markets

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Getting Around

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Serowe

–

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Good to know

🇧🇼 Serowe

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

18:42 6:42 PM

23:42 11:42 PM

5 h ahead of Serowe

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

47,447

127,240

💱 Currency

Botswana Pula BWP P

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

100 BWP = 7.43 USD

100 BWP = 6.64 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to BWP – Botswana Pula Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇼 Botswana Pula (P)

Botswana Pula exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 13.45 BWP (100 BWP = 7.43 USD). 1 EUR = 15.06 BWP (100 BWP = 6.64 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

USD to BWP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Serowe Chiang Mai 9,090 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Serowe
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

Serowe vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1071% more than Serowe, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $120 per month in Serowe and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $80 in Serowe and $935 in Chiang Mai. That makes Serowe about 91% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 196% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Serowe, where all-in costs run around $80, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Serowe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $80 in Serowe to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.