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: $376 in Biratnagar versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $625 in Biratnagar versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $875 in Biratnagar versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 56% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar 72% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.68 NPR 259

$1.96 ฿65.7

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.18 NPR 2,792

$18.35 ฿616

-0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 NPR 1,295

$7.48 ฿251

12.70%

Cappuccino

$1.52 NPR 233

$2.02 ฿67.7

-24.75%

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

$0.34 NPR 52.7

$0.85 ฿28.45

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.35

$0.36 ฿11.94

-58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 NPR 258

$2.14 ฿71.7

-21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 NPR 396

$3.59 ฿121

-28.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 NPR 96.7

$1.65 ฿55.4

-61.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 NPR 60.3

$1.57 ฿52.6

-75.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 NPR 102

$1.19 ฿39.95

-44.54%

Eggs

$1.36 NPR 208

$1.94 ฿65.0

-29.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 NPR 777

$16.19 ฿544

-68.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 NPR 463

$2.99 ฿100

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.55 NPR 546

$10.94 ฿367

-67.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 NPR 326

$2.71 ฿91.0

-21.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 132

$1.17 ฿39.18

-26.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 NPR 229

$1.69 ฿56.6

-11.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 NPR 84.0

$1.60 ฿53.9

-65.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 NPR 62.0

$1.38 ฿46.45

-71.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 NPR 78.6

$1.20 ฿40.38

-57.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 75.1

$0.67 ฿22.46

-26.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 NPR 52.5

$0.56 ฿18.70

-39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 NPR 455

$4.64 ฿156

-36.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 NPR 344

$1.86 ฿62.4

20.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 NPR 492

$3.30 ฿111

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 27.83

$0.88 ฿29.63

-79.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.93 NPR 1,986

$19.34 ฿649

-33.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 342

$1.36 ฿45.82

63.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 127

$1.34 ฿44.90

-38.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 NPR 383

$8.21 ฿276

-69.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 193

$1.22 ฿41.11

3.28%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

52.34%

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

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

80.15%

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

$26.01 NPR 3,996

$70.7 ฿2,372

-63.20%

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

$4.53 NPR 695

$14.04 ฿471

-67.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.23 NPR 1,571

$17.49 ฿587

-41.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.46 NPR 2,836

$42.15 ฿1,415

-56.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.23 NPR 342

$6.88 ฿231

-67.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 NPR 518

$5.92 ฿199

-43.07%

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

$52.6 NPR 8,085

$309 ฿10.4K

-82.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,940 NPR 297.9K

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-86.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.11 NPR 3,857

$55.8 ฿1,872

-54.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.46 NPR 5,600

$26.11 ฿877

39.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.75 NPR 4,263

$83.0 ฿2,787

-66.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.18 NPR 5,096

$70.5 ฿2,365

-52.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 NPR 16.1K

$432 ฿14.5K

-75.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.9 NPR 8,900

$239 ฿8,020

-75.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 NPR 31.8K

$822 ฿27.6K

-74.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.5K

$512 ฿17.2K

-71.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$395 NPR 60.6K

$1,915 ฿64.3K

-79.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$259 NPR 39.8K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-82.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 NPR 25.2K

$579 ฿19.4K

-71.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

180.00%

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

Last update for Biratnagar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Biratnagar and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 254% 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: $18.00 in Biratnagar vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $243 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 129% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 254% 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: $105 in Biratnagar versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% 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 $18.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Biratnagar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 129% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.