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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $366 in Nagaon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $588 in Nagaon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $810 in Nagaon, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Nagaon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nagaon are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Nagaon 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$1.27 ₹122

63.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$11.28 ₹1,082

73.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.37 ₹515

5.59%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.55 ₹244

-29.02%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.41 ₹39.19

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.14 ₹13.55

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.26 ₹121

75.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.49 ₹335

8.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.65 ₹62.4

215.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.43 ₹41.10

251.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.48 ₹46.06

191.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.76 ₹73.1

197.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$3.82 ₹367

323.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.20 ₹307

-9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.63 ₹156

64.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.72 ₹69.0

51.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.96 ₹91.9

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.65 ₹62.5

124.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.34 ₹32.94

276.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.36 ₹34.73

194.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.31 ₹29.57

132.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.18 ₹17.62

194.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.98 ₹478

-15.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$6.89 ₹661

165.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.72 ₹165

-5.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.44 ₹234

18.85%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.79 ₹459

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.28 ₹26.80

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$7.26 ₹697

640.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.67 ₹64.3

74.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.28 ₹26.60

107.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.33 ₹127

79.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.06 ₹102

36.79%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$12.6K ₹1.2M

67.13%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$15.8K ₹1.5M

67.56%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$34.40 ₹3,300

85.03%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.25 ₹312

296.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$6.10 ₹585

236.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$14.00 ₹1,343

178.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$5.94 ₹570

-34.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.05 ₹292

115.74%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$27.17 ₹2,606

2785.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$2,227 ₹213.6K

558.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$17.17 ₹1,647

220.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$30.81 ₹2,955

-19.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$37.15 ₹3,564

153.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$27.46 ₹2,634

169.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$137 ₹13.2K

256.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$78.7 ₹7,545

266.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$258 ₹24.7K

245.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$184 ₹17.7K

182.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$866 ₹83.1K

127.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$516 ₹49.5K

179.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.38

-24.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Nagaon: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $137 in Nagaon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Nagaon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $95.0 – making Nagaon 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 Nagaon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Nagaon, 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 $549 in Nagaon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $27.17 in Nagaon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 153% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagaon, where all-in costs run around $366, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Nagaon 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. Nagaon costs $366 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 Nagaon. 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.