Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangon (Rangoon) and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangon (Rangoon) and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Yangon (Rangoon) is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 MMK 4,459

$1.96 ฿65.9

8.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.00 MMK 37.7K

$18.35 ฿617

-1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 MMK 11.8K

$7.48 ฿252

-24.73%

Cappuccino

$2.09 MMK 4,371

$2.02 ฿67.8

3.47%

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

$0.74 MMK 1,549

$0.85 ฿28.52

-12.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MMK 1,237

$0.36 ฿11.97

63.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 MMK 2,042

$2.14 ฿71.9

-54.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 MMK 4,143

$3.59 ฿121

-44.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MMK 3,991

$1.65 ฿55.5

15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MMK 2,085

$1.57 ฿52.7

-36.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 MMK 3,102

$1.19 ฿40.05

24.37%

Eggs

$1.43 MMK 2,995

$1.94 ฿65.1

-26.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 MMK 16.3K

$16.19 ฿545

-51.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 MMK 14.0K

$2.99 ฿101

124.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 MMK 22.9K

$10.94 ฿368

0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.75 MMK 12.0K

$2.71 ฿91.2

112.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MMK 2,306

$1.17 ฿39.27

-5.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 MMK 5,729

$1.69 ฿56.8

62.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.29 MMK 6,896

$1.60 ฿54.0

105.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 MMK 5,175

$1.38 ฿46.56

78.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 MMK 3,247

$1.20 ฿40.47

29.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 MMK 2,714

$0.67 ฿22.51

94.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MMK 699

$0.56 ฿18.74

-41.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.69 MMK 3,537

$4.64 ฿156

-63.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 MMK 19.0K

$17.62 ฿593

-48.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 MMK 2,033

$1.86 ฿62.6

-47.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MMK 2,433

$3.30 ฿111

-64.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 MMK 413

$0.88 ฿29.70

-77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.61 MMK 20.1K

$19.34 ฿651

-50.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MMK 2,343

$1.36 ฿45.92

-17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.95 MMK 1,999

$1.34 ฿45.00

-29.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 MMK 7,269

$8.21 ฿276

-57.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$10.42 MMK 21.8K

$1.22 ฿41.20

754.10%

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

$37.7K MMK 78.9M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

76.57%

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

$54.3K MMK 113.6M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

140.88%

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

$55.7 MMK 116.5K

$70.7 ฿2,378

-21.24%

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

$11.06 MMK 23.1K

$14.04 ฿472

-21.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.31 MMK 53.0K

$17.49 ฿589

44.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.87 MMK 60.4K

$42.15 ฿1,418

-31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.62 MMK 24.3K

$6.88 ฿231

68.90%

Cinema Ticket

$2.75 MMK 5,761

$5.92 ฿199

-53.55%

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

$324 MMK 678.3K

$309 ฿10.4K

5.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K MMK 32.7M

$14.9K ฿500.7K

4.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.3 MMK 166.1K

$55.8 ฿1,876

42.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.4 MMK 134.9K

$26.11 ฿879

146.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 MMK 202.2K

$83.0 ฿2,793

16.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 MMK 301.5K

$70.5 ฿2,371

104.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 MMK 1.1M

$432 ฿14.5K

26.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 MMK 380.9K

$239 ฿8,040

-23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 MMK 2.3M

$822 ฿27.7K

34.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$850 MMK 1.8M

$512 ฿17.2K

65.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 MMK 4.5M

$1,915 ฿64.4K

12.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$944 MMK 2.0M

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-35.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 MMK 591.8K

$579 ฿19.5K

-51.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

120.00%

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

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $432 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 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 Yangon (Rangoon) versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $243 – making Yangon (Rangoon) 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

Yangon (Rangoon) vs Chiang Mai: 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 $1,196 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. 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 $324 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) and $309 in Chiang Mai. 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.