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 $769 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,846 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Yangon (Rangoon) is about 19% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Yangon (Rangoon) and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yangon (Rangoon) 44% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 MMK 5,437

$2.08 ฿69.2

25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.45 MMK 34.4K

$19.64 ฿651

-16.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.06 MMK 6,409

$5.65 ฿188

-45.84%

Cappuccino

$1.65 MMK 3,458

$1.81 ฿59.9

-8.84%

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

$0.77 MMK 1,615

$0.71 ฿23.66

8.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 MMK 1,288

$0.32 ฿10.48

93.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 MMK 2,054

$2.24 ฿74.2

-56.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 MMK 4,296

$3.63 ฿121

-43.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MMK 3,674

$1.96 ฿65.0

-10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 MMK 2,472

$1.50 ฿49.83

-21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 MMK 4,599

$1.34 ฿44.32

64.18%

Eggs

$1.81 MMK 3,794

$2.26 ฿75.1

-19.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 MMK 13.4K

$16.26 ฿539

-60.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MMK 9,961

$2.95 ฿98.0

61.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.94 MMK 12.4K

$9.94 ฿330

-40.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 MMK 9,527

$2.57 ฿85.3

77.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MMK 2,335

$1.06 ฿35.04

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 MMK 8,589

$1.61 ฿53.5

154.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 MMK 6,376

$1.52 ฿50.4

100.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 MMK 5,244

$1.27 ฿42.14

96.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 MMK 3,332

$1.07 ฿35.37

48.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MMK 2,535

$0.72 ฿23.89

68.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MMK 1,052

$0.51 ฿16.87

-1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 MMK 3,521

$4.19 ฿139

-59.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 MMK 19.0K

$17.87 ฿593

-49.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 MMK 2,010

$1.69 ฿56.2

-43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MMK 2,435

$2.84 ฿94.1

-59.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MMK 479

$0.93 ฿30.70

-75.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.88 MMK 20.7K

$53.9 ฿1,787

-81.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MMK 2,067

$1.23 ฿40.95

-19.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MMK 2,063

$0.58 ฿19.13

70.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 MMK 5,865

$2.42 ฿80.4

15.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$9.00 MMK 18.8K

$1.41 ฿46.84

538.30%

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

$30.4K MMK 63.7M

$21.4K ฿711.3K

41.79%

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

$48.3K MMK 101.2M

$27.3K ฿906.7K

76.81%

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

$48.48 MMK 101.5K

$63.7 ฿2,112

-23.86%

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

$7.74 MMK 16.2K

$12.85 ฿426

-39.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.89 MMK 39.5K

$20.22 ฿671

-6.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.26 MMK 40.3K

$38.74 ฿1,285

-50.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.19 MMK 23.4K

$3.97 ฿132

181.86%

Cinema Ticket

$2.52 MMK 5,270

$6.74 ฿223

-62.61%

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

$494 MMK 1.0M

$778 ฿25.8K

-36.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K MMK 36.4M

$14.6K ฿484.6K

19.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 MMK 187.0K

$54.3 ฿1,801

64.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 MMK 132.9K

$25.45 ฿844

149.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MMK 212.3K

$94.3 ฿3,129

7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 MMK 270.5K

$73.4 ฿2,436

75.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 MMK 755.7K

$490 ฿16.2K

-26.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 MMK 403.6K

$289 ฿9,596

-33.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 MMK 2.2M

$894 ฿29.6K

16.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 MMK 1.2M

$517 ฿17.1K

6.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,164 MMK 4.5M

$1,955 ฿64.9K

10.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$950 MMK 2.0M

$1,477 ฿49.0K

-35.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 MMK 591.5K

$602 ฿20.0K

-53.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

115.44%

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

Last update for Yangon (Rangoon): August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Yangon (Rangoon) 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 113% 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 $16.00 in Yangon (Rangoon) versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $240 – 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 23% 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 $1,153 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) 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 Yangon (Rangoon), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Yangon (Rangoon) and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $769, than in Chiang Mai at $947. 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 $769 versus $947 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.