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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $321 in Biratnagar versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $525 in Biratnagar versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $728 in Biratnagar versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 66% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar 77% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 NPR 231

$2.08 ฿68.6

-26.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.97 NPR 2,114

$19.64 ฿646

-28.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 NPR 1,175

$5.65 ฿186

37.52%

Cappuccino

$1.20 NPR 181

$1.81 ฿59.4

-33.70%

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

$0.34 NPR 51.8

$0.71 ฿23.45

-52.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 NPR 229

$2.24 ฿73.6

-32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NPR 331

$3.63 ฿119

-39.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 NPR 85.9

$1.96 ฿64.4

-70.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 NPR 57.8

$1.50 ฿49.39

-74.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 96.1

$1.34 ฿43.93

-52.24%

Eggs

$1.26 NPR 190

$2.26 ฿74.5

-44.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 NPR 686

$16.26 ฿535

-72.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 NPR 399

$2.95 ฿97.1

-10.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.18 NPR 481

$9.94 ฿327

-68.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 NPR 293

$2.57 ฿84.6

-24.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 NPR 125

$1.06 ฿34.73

-21.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 NPR 204

$1.61 ฿53.0

-16.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.8

$1.52 ฿49.97

-68.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 NPR 54.8

$1.27 ฿41.77

-71.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 NPR 71.1

$1.07 ฿35.06

-56.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 NPR 41.22

$0.72 ฿23.68

-62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 NPR 43.86

$0.51 ฿16.72

-43.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NPR 393

$4.19 ฿138

-37.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 NPR 253

$1.69 ฿55.7

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 NPR 353

$2.84 ฿93.3

-17.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NPR 20.12

$0.93 ฿30.43

-86.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.90 NPR 1,800

$53.9 ฿1,771

-77.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 NPR 296

$1.23 ฿40.59

59.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 NPR 357

$2.42 ฿79.7

-2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 NPR 180

$1.41 ฿46.43

-15.60%

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

$21.4K NPR 3.2M

$21.4K ฿705.1K

0.03%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$4.13 NPR 625

$12.85 ฿423

-67.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.32 NPR 1,409

$20.22 ฿665

-53.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.04 NPR 4,242

$38.74 ฿1,274

-27.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.99 NPR 301

$3.97 ฿130

-49.87%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 NPR 478

$6.74 ฿222

-53.12%

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

$48.06 NPR 7,269

$778 ฿25.6K

-93.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,768 NPR 267.4K

$14.6K ฿480.4K

-87.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.75 NPR 3,139

$54.3 ฿1,785

-61.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.97 NPR 4,987

$25.45 ฿837

29.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.24 NPR 3,666

$94.3 ฿3,102

-74.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.07 NPR 4,548

$73.4 ฿2,415

-59.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$46.58 NPR 7,044

$490 ฿16.1K

-90.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 NPR 7,840

$289 ฿9,512

-82.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 NPR 20.0K

$894 ฿29.4K

-85.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.4 NPR 14.9K

$517 ฿17.0K

-80.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$388 NPR 58.7K

$1,955 ฿64.3K

-80.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$260 NPR 39.3K

$1,477 ฿48.6K

-82.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 NPR 24.6K

$602 ฿19.8K

-72.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

151.35%

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

Last update for Biratnagar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $46.58 in Biratnagar and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 270% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Biratnagar vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $240 per month, with Biratnagar cheaper across the board.

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

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

Biratnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 195% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 270% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $46.58 in Biratnagar versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 152% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Biratnagar – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $321 in Biratnagar versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Biratnagar but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Biratnagar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Biratnagar is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Biratnagar and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.