Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and the Cook Islands
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,533 in the Cook Islands, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Cook Islands Living Index65Cost of Living Index in the Cook IslandsLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 35.3% cheaper than the Cook Islands without rent, and 40.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 31.8% cheaper than the Cook Islands without rent, and 25.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$11.04 NZ$19.67
-80.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$55.9 NZ$99.5
-65.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$6.96 NZ$12.41
-21.41%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$3.46 NZ$6.16
-51.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$2.44 NZ$4.35
-72.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$2.41 NZ$4.30
-85.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$5.60 NZ$9.97
-56.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$4.98 NZ$8.87
-25.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$2.28 NZ$4.07
-9.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$3.11 NZ$5.55
-53.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.73 NZ$3.08
-21.97%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$5.49 NZ$9.78
-58.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$8.97 NZ$15.99
81.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$7.93 NZ$14.13
-65.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$9.93 NZ$17.70
-7.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$2.85 NZ$5.08
-16.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.66 NZ$2.95
-37.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$3.37 NZ$6.01
-52.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$8.86 NZ$15.80
-83.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.73 NZ$4.87
-52.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.28 NZ$4.06
-51.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$2.26 NZ$4.02
-69.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$2.86 NZ$5.09
-82.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$11.19 NZ$19.94
-63.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$12.37 NZ$22.05
43.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$3.30 NZ$5.88
-50.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$4.69 NZ$8.36
-38.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$2.81 NZ$5.01
-69.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$19.31 NZ$34.40
-93.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$33.83 NZ$60.3
-93.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.94 NZ$3.46
-22.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$11.2K NZ$19.9K
86.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$104 NZ$186
-41.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$46.77 NZ$83.3
-73.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$101 NZ$180
-79.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$689 NZ$1,228
-33.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$710 NZ$1,265
-58.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$388 NZ$692
136.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$621 NZ$1,106
-11.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$945 NZ$1,684
52.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cook Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$3,914 NZ$6,974
-84.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for the Cook Islands: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Cook Islands $710 45.3% 142% $416
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Cook Islands $368 23.5% 55.9% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Cook Islands - * 0% 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Cook Islands $252 16.1% 168% $158
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Cook Islands $208 13.3% 169% $131
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Cook Islands $31 * 2% 49.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Cook Islands - * 0% 100%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Cook Islands $621 24.7% 12.5% $69
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Cook Islands $834 33.2% 57.6% $305
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Cook Islands - * 0% 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Cook Islands $299 11.9% 180% $192
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Cook Islands $690 27.5% 183% $446
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Cook Islands $67 * 2.7% 45.7% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Cook Islands - * 0% 100%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇰 Cook Islands
Weather
Population
127,240
14,222
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Cook Islands 11,870 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Cook Islands
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared
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