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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $292 in Janakpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $505 in Janakpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $719 in Janakpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 219% more than Janakpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Janakpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Janakpur 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.93 NPR 296

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$11.65 NPR 1,787

68.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.42 NPR 985

-11.68%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.52 NPR 234

19.08%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.56 NPR 85.4

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.14 NPR 21.75

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.98 NPR 304

11.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.66 NPR 254

128.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.61 NPR 93.8

236.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.34 NPR 52.3

344.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.92 NPR 140

52.17%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.64 NPR 251

37.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$3.21 NPR 493

404.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.43 NPR 372

19.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.05 NPR 928

55.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.67 NPR 256

60.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.64 NPR 98.1

70.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.03 NPR 157

57.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.53 NPR 81.6

175.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.30 NPR 46.39

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.50 NPR 76.3

112.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.22 NPR 33.28

227.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.18 NPR 27.39

194.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.32 NPR 356

82.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.81 NPR 1,198

134.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.47 NPR 225

10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.93 NPR 296

50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.68 NPR 105

72.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.29 NPR 198

-55.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$3.30 NPR 507

-27.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.07 NPR 163

35.51%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$23.2K NPR 3.6M

-9.60%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$26.1K NPR 4.0M

1.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$13.17 NPR 2,021

383.30%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.36 NPR 516

283.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$3.85 NPR 591

432.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$13.20 NPR 2,025

195.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.58 NPR 1,010

-40.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.00 NPR 461

119.33%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$32.31 NPR 4,958

2326.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$4,862 NPR 746.1K

201.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$26.40 NPR 4,051

108.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$16.41 NPR 2,518

50.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$40.04 NPR 6,144

135.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$23.03 NPR 3,534

221.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$52.9 NPR 8,123

826.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$22.98 NPR 3,525

1154.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$130 NPR 19.9K

585.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$96.3 NPR 14.8K

440.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$332 NPR 50.9K

81.40%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Janakpur: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $52.9 in Janakpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 81% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Janakpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $110 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Janakpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 219% more than Janakpur, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $438 in Janakpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $12.00 in Janakpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 118% 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 Janakpur, where all-in costs run around $292, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Janakpur 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. Janakpur costs $292 versus $932 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 Janakpur. 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.