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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 49.4% more expensive than Kathmandu without rent, and 72.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 46.1% more expensive than Kathmandu without rent, and 65.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.3

$1.77 NPR 260

14.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿590

$18.97 NPR 2,787

-2.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿237

$6.54 NPR 960

14.37%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.3

$1.91 NPR 280

4.71%

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

$0.85 ฿26.87

$0.54 NPR 79.7

57.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.15

$0.17 NPR 25.47

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.2

$2.67 NPR 392

-17.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿119

$3.73 NPR 548

0.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.5

$0.84 NPR 123

104.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.8

$0.58 NPR 85.2

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.75

$1.00 NPR 147

16.00%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.8

$1.77 NPR 260

11.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿505

$9.13 NPR 1,341

74.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿100

$3.22 NPR 472

-1.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿346

$6.08 NPR 893

79.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.9

$2.19 NPR 322

21.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.79

$1.10 NPR 162

10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.8

$1.23 NPR 181

38.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.4

$0.65 NPR 95.8

144.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.00

$0.48 NPR 70.9

175.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.07

$0.68 NPR 100.0

72.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.50

$0.50 NPR 73.3

36.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.68

$0.27 NPR 39.99

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿143

$2.85 NPR 418

58.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿605

$6.99 NPR 1,027

172.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.2

$2.30 NPR 337

-23.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿101

$3.22 NPR 473

-1.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.54

$0.21 NPR 30.73

357.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿599

$10.98 NPR 1,613

72.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.07

$2.21 NPR 325

-38.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.89

$1.11 NPR 163

21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿255

$3.60 NPR 529

123.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.43

$1.21 NPR 178

2.48%

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

$21.2K ฿671.3K

$32.1K NPR 4.7M

-33.97%

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

$21.8K ฿690.1K

$41.2K NPR 6.1M

-47.26%

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

$71.2 ฿2,260

$32.89 NPR 4,831

116.60%

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

$14.09 ฿447

$4.77 NPR 701

195.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿554

$9.51 NPR 1,397

83.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,335

$22.43 NPR 3,294

87.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

$7.25 NPR 1,065

-5.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿188

$3.23 NPR 475

83.90%

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

$307 ฿9,750

$90.7 NPR 13.3K

238.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿469.3K

$3,812 NPR 559.9K

288.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,766

$24.43 NPR 3,588

127.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿850

$27.46 NPR 4,034

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,640

$57.9 NPR 8,508

43.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,224

$39.24 NPR 5,764

78.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$197 NPR 28.9K

116.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,521

$102 NPR 15.0K

132.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.4K

$338 NPR 49.7K

136.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.0K

$188 NPR 27.6K

167.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.4K

$2,386 NPR 350.5K

-13.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.6K

$1,417 NPR 208.2K

8.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.7K

$240 NPR 35.2K

172.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-58.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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