Brisbane vs Chiang Mai: cost of living for digital nomads

Brisbane, Australia and Chiang Mai, Thailand, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Brisbane for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $2,715).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $1,350 in Brisbane.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Brisbane: 220 Mbps typical against 210 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Brisbane wins 1 of the measured lines; Chiang Mai wins 6.

LineBrisbaneChiang Mai
Monthly total (USD)$2,715$1,100
Rent$1,350$400
Food$590$320
Transport$85$40
Coworking$180$100
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)220210
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemetromid
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/1010/10

Compare Brisbane with

Compare Chiang Mai with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.