Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,259 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,752 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nakhon Ratchasima 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$3.04 ฿102

-32.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$26.96 ฿902

-30.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$6.48 ฿217

21.30%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.07 ฿69.2

-1.93%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.59 ฿19.70

35.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.37 ฿12.48

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.87 ฿62.5

14.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.47 ฿82.7

48.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.65 ฿55.1

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.30 ฿43.47

20.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.26 ฿42.14

-4.76%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.50 ฿50.1

31.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$15.41 ฿515

5.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.26 ฿109

-6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$11.26 ฿377

-4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$3.23 ฿108

-14.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.33 ฿44.64

-12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.89 ฿63.4

-9.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.39 ฿46.62

14.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.47 ฿49.24

-5.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.22 ฿40.88

-4.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.36 ฿45.36

-51.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.38 ฿12.79

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.00 ฿100

55.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$18.09 ฿605

-1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.75 ฿58.7

2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.28 ฿76.3

46.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.47 ฿15.83

93.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$20.14 ฿674

-7.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.10 ฿36.69

28.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$1.29 ฿43.03

3.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$7.48 ฿250

8.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.20 ฿40.17

2.50%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$82.4K ฿2.8M

-74.00%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$26.9K ฿899.6K

-18.86%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$78.9 ฿2,638

-9.56%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$13.63 ฿456

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$18.64 ฿623

-3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$49.16 ฿1,644

-16.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$15.66 ฿524

-56.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.85 ฿162

17.94%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$188 ฿6,295

63.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$9,283 ฿310.5K

58.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$29.46 ฿985

89.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$19.96 ฿668

30.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$78.8 ฿2,635

7.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$43.30 ฿1,448

63.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$217 ฿7,246

95.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$161 ฿5,401

50.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$507 ฿17.0K

57.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$438 ฿14.6K

15.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$3,294 ฿110.2K

-41.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$1,693 ฿56.6K

-13.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$605 ฿20.2K

-1.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.1

-1.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nakhon Ratchasima: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $217 in Nakhon Ratchasima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Nakhon Ratchasima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $242 in Nakhon Ratchasima – so Nakhon Ratchasima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Nakhon Ratchasima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,150 in Nakhon Ratchasima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $188 in Nakhon Ratchasima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $767 in Nakhon Ratchasima, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nakhon Ratchasima costs $767 versus $852 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 Nakhon Ratchasima. 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.