Wondering how far your salary goes in Yangon? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment (Bahan / Golden Valley)USD 600–1,200 / mo
1-bed apartment (downtown or outer townships)USD 250–600 / mo
Meal, mid-range restaurantUSD 8–18
Local teashop or street mealUSD 1–3
Generator fuel, a working householdUSD 50–200 / mo depending on outage hours
Good to know
Population
~5.5 million (Yangon Region urban area)
Official language
Burmese; English in business and international organisations
Currency
Myanmar kyat (MMK) — official and market rates diverge sharply
Time zone
GMT+6:30 — a half-hour offset from most of the region
Driving
Right-hand traffic, but most cars are right-hand drive
Electricity
Rationed since early 2025; generators and solar are standard
Power plug
Types C/D/F/G, 230V
Registration
FRC required for stays of 90+ days; expires 30 November annually
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Yangon checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.