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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 49.3% more expensive than Kathmandu without rent, and 74.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 45.8% more expensive than Kathmandu without rent, and 69.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$1.78 NPR 243
13.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$19.14 NPR 2,621
-1.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.39 NPR 876
20.03%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.9 NPR 260
4.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.49 NPR 67.7
67.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.19 NPR 26.42
73.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.57 NPR 352
-17.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.7 NPR 506
0.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.86 NPR 118
90.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.56 NPR 76.6
180.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1 NPR 136
19.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.86 NPR 255
6.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.25 NPR 1,266
72.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.24 NPR 444
-3.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6 NPR 822
86.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.18 NPR 298
26.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.09 NPR 150
11.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.25 NPR 171
36.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.64 NPR 87.2
142.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.48 NPR 66.1
179.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.72 NPR 98.1
68.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.53 NPR 72.7
35.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.27 NPR 37.1
96.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.83 NPR 388
66.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$6.87 NPR 941
167.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.25 NPR 308
-20.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.25 NPR 446
-1.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.23 NPR 31.6
308.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$10.83 NPR 1,483
74.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.12 NPR 290
-33.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.09 NPR 149
23.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$3.73 NPR 510
110.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.23 NPR 168
1.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$32.6K NPR 4.5M
-35.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$41.1K NPR 5.6M
-46.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$32.39 NPR 4,436
118.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$5 NPR 685
174.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$9.54 NPR 1,306
84.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$22.14 NPR 3,031
88.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$7.57 NPR 1,037
-8.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.21 NPR 440
80.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$89.9 NPR 12.3K
242.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$3,842 NPR 526.1K
282.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$24.99 NPR 3,421
121.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$28.03 NPR 3,838
-5.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$59.6 NPR 8,155
42.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$39.41 NPR 5,397
82.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$197 NPR 27K
120.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$102 NPR 13.9K
131.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$344 NPR 47.1K
138.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$187 NPR 25.6K
166.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,825 NPR 249.9K
19.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,130 NPR 154.8K
36.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$234 NPR 32K
200.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
12.08
-58.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kathmandu: October 29, 2025

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