Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dhangadhi

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhangadhi: $83.6 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Dhangadhi

🇳🇵 Nepal

$83.6

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Dhangadhi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Dhangadhi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $84 in Dhangadhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Dhangadhi $84

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $158 in Dhangadhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Dhangadhi $158

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Dhangadhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Dhangadhi $233

Chiang Mai costs about 1019% more than Dhangadhi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Dhangadhi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dhangadhi 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$1.68 NPR 254

26.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$13.27 NPR 2,007

40.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$8.42 NPR 1,274

-33.49%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.94 NPR 143

76.60%

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$0.44 NPR 66.6

47.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$0.27 NPR 40.92

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$2.36 NPR 357

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$0.54 NPR 81.4

274.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$0.24 NPR 36.31

487.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$1.16 NPR 175

104.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

$1.29 NPR 196

20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$1.16 NPR 175

26.72%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

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

$11.60 ฿388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

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

$727 ฿24.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Dhangadhi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Dhangadhi

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Dhangadhi

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Dhangadhi

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Dhangadhi

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Dhangadhi

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Dhangadhi

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Dhangadhi

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $13 in Dhangadhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $19 – making Dhangadhi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇵 Dhangadhi

🕒 Local time

19:06 7:06 PM

17:51 5:51 PM

1 h 15 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

102,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NPR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 151 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD). 1 EUR = 170 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Dhangadhi 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Dhangadhi

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 Dhangadhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1019% more than Dhangadhi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $125 in Dhangadhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $84 in Dhangadhi. That makes Dhangadhi about 91% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 1153% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $84 in Dhangadhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $84 in Dhangadhi to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.