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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Avarua vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Avarua vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Avarua vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Avarua costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Avarua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Avarua 37% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 NZ$100

$18.43 ฿594

221.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 NZ$14.88

$7.50 ฿241

17.33%

Cappuccino

$3.52 NZ$5.95

$1.93 ฿62.3

82.38%

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

$2.63 NZ$4.44

$0.78 ฿25.08

237.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 NZ$4.00

$0.32 ฿10.42

640.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 NZ$9.66

$2.15 ฿69.2

166.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 NZ$8.27

$3.71 ฿120

31.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 NZ$3.08

$1.71 ฿55.2

6.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 NZ$6.05

$1.56 ฿50.3

129.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 NZ$3.13

$1.18 ฿38.06

56.78%

Eggs

$5.00 NZ$8.46

$1.98 ฿63.9

152.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 NZ$20.23

$16.04 ฿517

-25.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 NZ$14.21

$3.17 ฿102

165.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 NZ$18.57

$10.94 ฿353

0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 NZ$5.19

$2.63 ฿84.7

16.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 NZ$3.00

$1.17 ฿37.61

52.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 NZ$6.27

$1.65 ฿53.0

124.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.64 NZ$16.29

$1.54 ฿49.51

525.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.17

$1.38 ฿44.34

121.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 NZ$3.95

$1.17 ฿37.54

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 NZ$3.98

$0.66 ฿21.25

257.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 NZ$5.05

$0.51 ฿16.55

486.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

Wine (Bottle)

$14.69 NZ$24.82

$18.32 ฿590

-19.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 NZ$7.55

$3.18 ฿102

40.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

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

$119 NZ$201

$69.2 ฿2,230

71.73%

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

$13.97 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 NZ$116

$56.2 ฿1,810

21.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 NZ$127

$71.8 ฿2,314

4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 NZ$263

$435 ฿14.0K

-64.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 NZ$266

$240 ฿7,727

-34.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 NZ$295

$798 ฿25.7K

-78.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 NZ$387

$498 ฿16.1K

-54.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,988 NZ$8,429

$1,995 ฿64.3K

149.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 NZ$1,285

$1,532 ฿49.4K

-50.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Avarua: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Avarua versus $435 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Avarua versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Avarua costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,275 per month in Avarua and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $850 in Avarua and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Avarua, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $850 in Avarua and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $850 in Avarua. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Avarua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.