ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $384 in Nagaon, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Nagaon, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $845 in Nagaon, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 122% more than Nagaon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Nagaon are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Nagaon71% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$1.39âđ132
41.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$10.62âđ1,009
77.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$5.87âđ557
34.92%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.64âđ156
16.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.34âđ31.91
147.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.13âđ11.98
169.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$1.39âđ132
58.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$3.33âđ316
14.11%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$0.68âđ64.4
141.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.22âđ20.78
636.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$0.45âđ42.38
162.22%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$0.89âđ84.1
125.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$4.57âđ434
247.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$2.82âđ267
6.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$1.89âđ179
38.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$0.75âđ71.7
62.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$0.91âđ86.0
86.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$0.78âđ73.8
102.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.31âđ29.46
325.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.39âđ36.82
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.36âđ34.43
86.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.27âđ25.79
107.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$1.43âđ136
216.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$7.21âđ685
152.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.48âđ141
23.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.82âđ268
14.54%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.40âđ418
-
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.28âđ26.36
217.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$8.63âđ820
124.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$0.79âđ75.2
70.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$1.47âđ140
461.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.17âđ111
8.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$13.9Kâđ1.3M
52.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$17.7Kâđ1.7M
26.81%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$40.92âđ3,885
71.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$3.32âđ315
314.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$5.70âđ542
208.77%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$16.08âđ1,527
158.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$7.09âđ673
-6.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$2.89âđ275
100.00%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$33.04âđ3,137
826.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$1,977âđ187.7K
649.94%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$25.82âđ2,451
110.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$34.96âđ3,319
-25.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$46.69âđ4,432
81.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$43.10âđ4,092
61.09%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$125âđ11.8K
239.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$76.9âđ7,297
209.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$274âđ26.1K
200.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$177âđ16.8K
191.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,045âđ99.2K
96.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$484âđ45.9K
214.95%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nagaon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
7.38
-32.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nagaon: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Nagaon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Nagaon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $97.0 â 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
Chiang Mai costs about 122% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Nagaon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $576 in Nagaon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Nagaon?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $33.04 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 Nagaon?
Groceries cost about 150% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
$800 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $384 in Nagaon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nagaon costs $384 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Nagaon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Nagaon?
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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared