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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $799 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,294 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,788 in Nakhon Ratchasima, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Nakhon Ratchasima 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.00 ฿99.0

-30.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$26.55 ฿877

-25.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.38 ฿211

-9.25%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.01 ฿66.3

-8.96%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.55 ฿18.17

41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.30 ฿9.86

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.87 ฿61.9

25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.76 ฿91.3

34.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.69 ฿56.0

20.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.30 ฿43.08

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.28 ฿42.35

10.94%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.54 ฿50.8

41.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$15.68 ฿518

1.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.71 ฿89.6

13.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.30 ฿340

-4.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.29 ฿109

-20.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.28 ฿42.34

-14.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.97 ฿65.2

-17.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.02 ฿66.9

-24.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.21 ฿40.05

2.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.06 ฿34.91

6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.30 ฿43.03

-43.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.36 ฿11.86

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.83 ฿93.5

51.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$18.13 ฿599

-0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.68 ฿55.6

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.03 ฿100.0

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.48 ฿15.89

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$19.78 ฿654

179.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.03 ฿34.13

19.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.15 ฿38.16

-53.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.42 ฿245

-67.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.36 ฿45.08

5.88%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$46.0K ฿1.5M

-53.93%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$27.3K ฿903.1K

-0.10%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$89.9 ฿2,969

-27.75%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$11.69 ฿386

14.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$19.68 ฿650

5.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$48.99 ฿1,619

-17.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$15.40 ฿509

-74.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.93 ฿163

36.11%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$180 ฿5,943

337.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$14.9K ฿491.5K

1.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$52.3 ฿1,727

7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$30.02 ฿992

-16.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$79.9 ฿2,639

16.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$68.2 ฿2,253

10.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$220 ฿7,278

119.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$162 ฿5,352

77.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$502 ฿16.6K

81.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$425 ฿14.1K

24.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$3,331 ฿110.1K

-40.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,761 ฿58.2K

-17.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$625 ฿20.7K

-3.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.1

9.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nakhon Ratchasima: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $220 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 3% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $241 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 19% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,199 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $180 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nakhon Ratchasima, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Nakhon Ratchasima 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. Nakhon Ratchasima costs $799 versus $950 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.