Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nagaon

For one person, living is cheaper in Nagaon: $371 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nagaon, India
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Nagaon
🇮🇳 India
$371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Nagaon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Nagaon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $371 in Nagaon, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Nagaon $371

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $596 in Nagaon, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Nagaon $596

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $821 in Nagaon, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Nagaon $821

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Nagaon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Nagaon are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Nagaon 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿72.0
$1.25 ₹118
70.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿628
$11.73 ₹1,111
58.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿189
$5.39 ₹510
3.90%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿56.1
$2.54 ₹241
-34.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.82
$0.44 ₹41.21
47.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.29
$0.15 ₹14.06
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.3
$1.23 ₹117
88.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿124
$3.43 ₹325
7.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿68.0
$0.65 ₹61.7
210.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$0.47 ₹44.64
200.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.94
$0.45 ₹42.34
208.89%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.9
$0.77 ₹73.4
207.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿557
$3.89 ₹369
324.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿90.1
$3.24 ₹306
-17.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿304
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.9
$1.73 ₹164
38.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.12
$0.70 ₹66.4
48.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.89 ₹84.2
86.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.6
$0.66 ₹62.6
136.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.75
$0.35 ₹33.29
254.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.65
$0.38 ₹35.63
186.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.70
$0.31 ₹28.94
145.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.34
$0.17 ₹15.96
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$4.95 ₹469
-16.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿605
$7.08 ₹671
153.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.8
$1.64 ₹155
-1.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿95.2
$2.48 ₹235
13.71%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.76 ₹451
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.52
$0.21 ₹19.87
342.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,784
$7.24 ₹685
630.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.69
$0.69 ₹65.3
71.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.78
$0.30 ₹28.52
-43.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿61.1
$1.29 ₹123
40.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.67
$1.12 ₹106
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿708.7K
$11.2K ₹1.1M
87.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿894.4K
$16.5K ₹1.6M
60.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,110
$34.70 ₹3,287
80.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿391
$3.36 ₹318
245.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿685
$6.32 ₹598
221.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,278
$14.13 ₹1,339
168.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿125
$6.44 ₹610
-42.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿220
$3.13 ₹297
107.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.5K
$27.04 ₹2,561
2588.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿559.0K
$2,237 ₹211.9K
640.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,806
$17.52 ₹1,660
205.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿836
$31.11 ₹2,947
-20.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,049
$38.35 ₹3,633
135.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,428
$27.06 ₹2,563
165.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$122 ₹11.6K
293.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.5K
$76.2 ₹7,222
306.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.7K
$271 ₹25.6K
290.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.2K
$187 ₹17.7K
251.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.5K
$942 ₹89.2K
156.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.3K
$522 ₹49.4K
208.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.1K
-
-
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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Nagaon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Nagaon
$76 75.4% $234
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Nagaon
$96 59.4% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Nagaon
$51 52.6% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Nagaon
$44 53% $50
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Nagaon
$72 5.9% $4.5
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Nagaon
$10 82.5% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Nagaon
$20 59.9% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $122 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $12 in Nagaon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $96 – making Nagaon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Nagaon
🕒 Local time
14:09 2:09 PM
12:39 12:39 PM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
117,700
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 94.73 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Nagaon 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Nagaon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Nagaon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Nagaon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $556 in Nagaon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nagaon, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Nagaon?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $27 in Nagaon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Nagaon?
Groceries cost about 146% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Nagaon?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Nagaon, where all-in costs run around $371, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Nagaon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Nagaon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Nagaon is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 60% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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