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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 4.6% cheaper than Matagalpa without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.2% more expensive than Matagalpa without rent, and 6.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$4.98 NIO 183
-59.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$24.54 NIO 904
-24.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$7.17 NIO 264
4.32%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$2.45 NIO 90.3
-18.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.85 NIO 31.48
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.44 NIO 16.10
-20.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.18 NIO 43.35
87.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.01 NIO 74.1
87.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.19 NIO 43.92
44.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.54 NIO 56.8
5.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.64 NIO 60.3
-29.27%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.14 NIO 78.9
-7.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$1.90 NIO 70.0
738.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$4.13 NIO 152
-23.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$6.67 NIO 246
63.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$3.91 NIO 144
-32.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$0.90 NIO 33.27
35.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.82 NIO 67.1
-6.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$2.17 NIO 79.9
-26.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.13 NIO 41.71
16.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$2.22 NIO 81.9
-47.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.69 NIO 25.37
-1.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.98 NIO 36.26
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.62 NIO 96.5
72.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$10.10 NIO 372
88.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.25 NIO 45.92
41.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.27 NIO 83.7
40.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.48 NIO 17.75
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$0.89 NIO 32.81
52.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.96 NIO 35.47
40.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$6.63 NIO 244
21.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.31 NIO 48.38
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$22.7K NIO 835.3K
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$26.2K NIO 966.4K
-17.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$51.9 NIO 1,913
37.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$16.89 NIO 622
-16.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$35.08 NIO 1,292
-50.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$8.20 NIO 302
-27.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$101 NIO 3,707
205.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$6,110 NIO 225.0K
142.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$76.1 NIO 2,802
-26.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$71.4 NIO 2,628
-62.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$130 NIO 4,794
-36.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$108 NIO 3,965
-34.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$154 NIO 5,673
177.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$261 NIO 9,601
-9.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$556 NIO 20.5K
44.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$368 NIO 13.6K
36.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Matagalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$198 NIO 7,306
229.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.25
-51.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Matagalpa: March 1, 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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