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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $380 in Nagaon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $606 in Nagaon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $831 in Nagaon, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Nagaon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nagaon are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Nagaon 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.44 ₹137

37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.67 ₹1,015

76.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.84 ₹556

32.71%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.70 ₹161

12.94%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.34 ₹31.92

132.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.15 ₹14.13

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.44 ₹137

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.33 ₹317

9.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.69 ₹65.3

139.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.22 ₹20.84

640.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.47 ₹45.04

153.19%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.84 ₹80.2

138.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$4.55 ₹433

251.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.80 ₹266

8.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.84 ₹175

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.74 ₹70.2

59.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.91 ₹86.7

80.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.77 ₹73.6

97.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.31 ₹29.67

345.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.36 ₹33.98

230.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.39 ₹37.33

79.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.27 ₹25.77

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.41 ₹134

224.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.14 ₹679

131.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.52 ₹145

20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.88 ₹274

11.11%

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

$4.25 ₹405

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.30 ₹28.66

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.93 ₹849

109.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.81 ₹76.6

67.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.49 ₹141

426.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.20 ₹114

2.50%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$14.0K ₹1.3M

54.87%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$17.8K ₹1.7M

26.80%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$40.65 ₹3,866

73.53%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.48 ₹331

293.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$5.41 ₹515

222.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$15.99 ₹1,521

158.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.22 ₹686

-3.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.97 ₹282

94.28%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$31.96 ₹3,040

860.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,968 ₹187.1K

642.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$25.93 ₹2,466

115.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$35.94 ₹3,418

-27.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$46.36 ₹4,408

84.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$42.60 ₹4,051

69.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$123 ₹11.7K

248.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$75.8 ₹7,212

214.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$278 ₹26.4K

194.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$182 ₹17.3K

181.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$978 ₹93.0K

102.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$511 ₹48.6K

190.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

-32.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Nagaon: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Nagaon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $97.0 – 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 128% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $571 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.96 in Nagaon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 148% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $380 in Nagaon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nagaon costs $380 versus $869 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.