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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $301 in Gaighat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $498 in Gaighat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $694 in Gaighat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 214% more than Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gaighat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gaighat 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$1.99 NPR 301

4.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$20.08 NPR 3,037

-2.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.43 NPR 973

-12.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.54 NPR 233

17.53%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.56 NPR 84.5

26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.16 NPR 24.54

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$3.36 NPR 509

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.60 NPR 545

0.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.52 NPR 78.2

276.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.22 NPR 33.12

581.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.32 NPR 48.41

318.75%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.01 NPR 152

123.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$7.55 NPR 1,142

115.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.00 NPR 303

47.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$2.69 NPR 406

269.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.68 NPR 255

52.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.13 NPR 171

-6.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.69 NPR 104

133.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.34 NPR 52.1

347.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.32 NPR 47.86

296.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.31 NPR 47.65

245.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.49 NPR 74.4

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.14 NPR 21.01

264.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.01 NPR 305

108.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$3.95 NPR 598

352.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.35 NPR 204

25.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.88 NPR 436

-1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$2.03 NPR 307

-39.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.34 NPR 203

-56.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$3.32 NPR 502

-27.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.36 NPR 206

3.68%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$29.9K NPR 4.5M

-28.38%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

-25.27%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$31.24 NPR 4,726

103.81%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$3.32 NPR 502

287.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$7.81 NPR 1,182

158.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$2.90 NPR 439

132.41%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$66.2 NPR 10.0K

1076.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$4,774 NPR 722.3K

206.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$26.66 NPR 4,033

103.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$28.86 NPR 4,366

-11.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$67.2 NPR 10.2K

40.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$29.40 NPR 4,448

149.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.72

-42.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Gaighat: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Gaighat. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $99.0 in Gaighat – so Gaighat wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gaighat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 214% more than Gaighat, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $452 in Gaighat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $20.00 in Gaighat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gaighat, where all-in costs run around $301, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Gaighat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gaighat costs $301 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Gaighat. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.