Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nalut Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nalut

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $254 in Nalut, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $405 in Nalut, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $556 in Nalut, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 238% more than Nalut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nalut are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nalut 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.70 LYD 17.18

-27.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$2.35 LYD 14.99

218.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 LYD 7.13

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 LYD 4.73

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.38 LYD 2.42

431.58%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.38 LYD 2.44

123.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.89 LYD 5.69

85.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.27 LYD 1.70

481.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.02 LYD 6.50

16.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.08 LYD 6.86

79.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.12 LYD 26.24

292.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.74 LYD 23.80

-20.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.45 LYD 53.8

29.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.85 LYD 11.80

46.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.12 LYD 7.15

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.65 LYD 4.14

160.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.47 LYD 3.00

240.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.52 LYD 3.32

165.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.39 LYD 2.50

207.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.48 LYD 3.05

39.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.31 LYD 1.95

80.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 LYD 6.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.41 LYD 9.01

229.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.35 LYD 2.24

151.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.88 LYD 5.58

54.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.00 LYD 6.40

34.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.03 LYD 0.20

3966.67%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$13.0K LYD 82.8K

64.20%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$13.6K LYD 86.9K

65.12%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$18.62 LYD 119

-6.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$7.15 LYD 45.52

489.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.70 LYD 17.22

119.26%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$45.96 LYD 293

21.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$33.55 LYD 214

-22.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$39.64 LYD 253

109.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$42.94 LYD 274

64.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nalut: July 14, 2026

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 Nalut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 238% more than Nalut, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $382 in Nalut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $254 in Nalut. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $254 in Nalut, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nalut costs $254 versus $861 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 Nalut. 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.