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 $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,534 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,270 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Yangon (Rangoon) is about 8% 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 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 MMK 4,537

$1.94 ฿63.5

11.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.80 MMK 37.3K

$18.64 ฿609

-4.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 MMK 11.5K

$7.82 ฿255

-30.05%

Cappuccino

$2.09 MMK 4,366

$1.95 ฿63.8

7.18%

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

$0.79 MMK 1,652

$0.85 ฿27.77

-7.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MMK 1,268

$0.35 ฿11.58

74.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 MMK 2,059

$2.13 ฿69.6

-53.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 MMK 4,246

$3.73 ฿122

-45.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MMK 3,824

$1.71 ฿56.0

7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MMK 2,010

$1.63 ฿53.2

-41.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MMK 3,045

$1.14 ฿37.15

27.19%

Eggs

$1.41 MMK 2,945

$1.93 ฿63.1

-26.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 MMK 16.3K

$16.21 ฿530

-52.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.90 MMK 14.4K

$3.12 ฿102

121.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 MMK 23.2K

$10.90 ฿356

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 MMK 11.6K

$2.75 ฿90.0

101.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MMK 2,312

$1.21 ฿39.52

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 MMK 5,899

$1.62 ฿53.0

74.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 MMK 6,683

$1.59 ฿51.8

100.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 MMK 5,454

$1.40 ฿45.70

86.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 MMK 3,245

$1.17 ฿38.17

32.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 MMK 2,822

$0.66 ฿21.60

104.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MMK 696

$0.53 ฿17.22

-37.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.60 MMK 3,340

$4.69 ฿153

-65.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 MMK 19.2K

$18.66 ฿609

-50.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 MMK 1,930

$1.80 ฿58.8

-48.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MMK 2,503

$3.23 ฿106

-62.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 MMK 414

$0.90 ฿29.26

-77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.86 MMK 20.6K

$19.21 ฿628

-48.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 MMK 2,280

$1.41 ฿45.91

-22.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 MMK 1,903

$1.29 ฿42.12

-29.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 MMK 7,381

$7.84 ฿256

-54.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$10.76 MMK 22.5K

$1.27 ฿41.58

747.24%

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

$38.6K MMK 80.8M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

81.36%

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

$54.2K MMK 113.6M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

144.17%

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

$54.4 MMK 113.8K

$69.1 ฿2,256

-21.28%

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

$11.04 MMK 23.1K

$14.08 ฿460

-21.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.70 MMK 51.7K

$18.00 ฿588

37.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.12 MMK 58.9K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.64 MMK 24.4K

$6.96 ฿227

67.24%

Cinema Ticket

$2.67 MMK 5,597

$5.92 ฿193

-54.90%

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

$322 MMK 674.5K

$299 ฿9,766

7.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K MMK 32.8M

$15.0K ฿488.3K

4.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.5 MMK 166.4K

$54.7 ฿1,787

45.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 MMK 135.5K

$26.77 ฿874

141.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 MMK 201.5K

$85.0 ฿2,776

13.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 MMK 297.6K

$70.6 ฿2,306

101.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 MMK 1.1M

$428 ฿14.0K

24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 MMK 377.7K

$237 ฿7,752

-24.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 MMK 2.3M

$801 ฿26.2K

39.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 MMK 1.8M

$515 ฿16.8K

65.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,120 MMK 4.4M

$1,975 ฿64.5K

7.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$921 MMK 1.9M

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-37.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 MMK 595.4K

$617 ฿20.2K

-53.94%

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): May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $533 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $428 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 117% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $246 – 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 9% 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 $1,197 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) and $1,300 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 $322 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $866. 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 $866 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.