Cost of Living Comparison Between Zenica and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Zenica and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $896 per month in Zenica vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,301 per month in Zenica vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,707 per month in Zenica vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zenica is about 5% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zenica and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zenica 35% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 BAM 12.30

$2.08 ฿69.2

250.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 BAM 31.70

$19.64 ฿651

-4.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 BAM 6.98

$5.65 ฿188

-26.73%

Cappuccino

$1.65 BAM 2.79

$1.81 ฿59.9

-8.84%

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

$1.73 BAM 2.92

$0.71 ฿23.66

143.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$0.32 ฿10.48

296.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 BAM 3.46

$2.24 ฿74.2

-8.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 BAM 3.53

$3.63 ฿121

-42.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 BAM 2.18

$1.96 ฿65.0

-34.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 BAM 1.49

$1.50 ฿49.83

-40.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.96

$1.34 ฿44.32

30.60%

Eggs

$2.82 BAM 4.76

$2.26 ฿75.1

24.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 BAM 13.04

$16.26 ฿539

-52.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.29 BAM 12.30

$2.95 ฿98.0

147.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.68 BAM 21.39

$9.94 ฿330

27.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 BAM 2.30

$2.57 ฿85.3

-47.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.78

$1.06 ฿35.04

55.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 BAM 2.63

$1.61 ฿53.5

-3.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BAM 3.26

$1.52 ฿50.4

26.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BAM 1.72

$1.27 ฿42.14

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 BAM 2.23

$1.07 ฿35.37

23.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 BAM 0.96

$0.72 ฿23.89

-20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BAM 1.22

$0.51 ฿16.87

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 BAM 6.05

$4.19 ฿139

-14.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.79 BAM 9.77

$17.87 ฿593

-67.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.54

$1.69 ฿56.2

-46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 BAM 1.72

$2.84 ฿94.1

-64.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$0.93 ฿30.70

-3.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.99 BAM 55.6

$53.9 ฿1,787

-38.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 BAM 2.70

$1.23 ฿40.95

30.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 BAM 1.43

$0.58 ฿19.13

46.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.15 BAM 15.44

$2.42 ฿80.4

278.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 BAM 2.59

$1.41 ฿46.84

8.51%

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

$32.2K BAM 54.4K

$21.4K ฿711.3K

50.31%

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

$22.5K BAM 38.0K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

-17.61%

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

$169 BAM 286

$63.7 ฿2,112

166.04%

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

$19.04 BAM 32.11

$12.85 ฿426

48.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.26 BAM 40.91

$20.22 ฿671

19.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.64 BAM 41.56

$38.74 ฿1,285

-36.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.00 BAM 25.30

$3.97 ฿132

277.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 BAM 7.79

$6.74 ฿223

-31.45%

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

$151 BAM 255

$778 ฿25.8K

-80.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,963 BAM 6,683

$14.6K ฿484.6K

-72.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 BAM 87.2

$54.3 ฿1,801

-4.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.04 BAM 54.0

$25.45 ฿844

25.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 BAM 157

$94.3 ฿3,129

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 BAM 151

$73.4 ฿2,436

21.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 BAM 328

$490 ฿16.2K

-60.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 BAM 248

$289 ฿9,596

-49.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 BAM 462

$894 ฿29.6K

-69.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 BAM 353

$517 ฿17.1K

-59.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 BAM 2,741

$1,955 ฿64.9K

-16.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,335 BAM 2,251

$1,477 ฿49.0K

-9.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 BAM 1,135

$602 ฿20.0K

11.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-46.14%

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

Last update for Zenica: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Zenica 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 12% higher in Zenica, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Zenica versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $240 – making Zenica 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Zenica, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,344 per month in Zenica 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 Zenica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $151 per month in Zenica 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 17% 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 Zenica, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Zenica 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. Zenica costs $896 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 Zenica. 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.