Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Herat

For one person, living is cheaper in Herat: $399 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 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

$936

/mo nomad

Herat

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$399

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Herat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $399 in Herat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Herat $399

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $478 in Herat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Herat $478

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $558 in Herat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Herat $558

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Herat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Herat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Herat 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$9.41 ؋611

101.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$3.75 ؋243

48.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ؋98.4

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 ؋511

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$0.79 ؋51.5

111.39%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$0.44 ؋28.56

45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$0.61 ؋39.47

219.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$1.89 ؋123

20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$6.28 ؋408

48.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$0.63 ؋41.15

273.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$0.75 ؋48.82

29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.64 ؋41.71

134.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$0.30 ؋19.37

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$0.32 ؋20.80

243.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.30 ؋19.18

63.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ؋30.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.17 ؋206

30.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$312 ؋20.3K

-80.10%

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

$12.17 ฿410

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$15.41 ؋1,001

142.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-72.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Herat: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Herat

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Herat

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Herat

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Herat

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Herat

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Herat

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Herat

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $9 in Herat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $48 – making Herat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇫 Herat

🕒 Local time

15:59 3:59 PM

13:29 1:29 PM

2 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

349,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Afghanistan Afghani AFN ؋

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

AFN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 64.93 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.46 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Herat 4,020 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Herat

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 Herat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Herat, 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 $598 in Herat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $399 in Herat. That makes Herat about 57% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 384% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $399 in Herat to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.