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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $606 in Narok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in Narok, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,217 in Narok, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Narok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Narok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Narok 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.37 KES 306

-12.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$23.12 KES 2,992

-15.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.65 KES 601

21.94%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.92 KES 248

-5.73%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.41 KES 52.4

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.22 KES 28.39

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.92 KES 248

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.34 KES 302

61.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.79 KES 102

159.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.48 KES 61.9

214.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.37 KES 178

2.19%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.26 KES 163

79.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$6.26 KES 810

158.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.14 KES 794

-52.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$6.25 KES 809

50.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.11 KES 402

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.03 KES 133

5.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.99 KES 257

-18.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.80 KES 103

82.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.81 KES 105

58.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.81 KES 105

30.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.69 KES 89.4

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.53 KES 68.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.57 KES 203

169.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$6.93 KES 897

163.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.88 KES 243

-13.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.36 KES 305

22.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$1.15 KES 148

-23.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$39.32 KES 5,088

36.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.52 KES 197

-23.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.37 KES 177

-57.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.15 KES 149

107.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.38 KES 179

5.07%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$19.0K KES 2.5M

10.35%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$20.1K KES 2.6M

31.32%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$61.5 KES 7,959

3.48%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$7.66 KES 991

68.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$23.13 KES 2,993

-11.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$23.42 KES 3,030

66.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$2.31 KES 299

69.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.80 KES 1,009

-15.64%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$57.8 KES 7,473

1257.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$7,656 KES 990.6K

91.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$15.56 KES 2,014

254.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$15.54 KES 2,011

59.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$22.93 KES 2,967

310.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$38.21 KES 4,945

93.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$230 KES 29.8K

113.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$153 KES 19.8K

88.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$309 KES 40.0K

188.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$234 KES 30.3K

122.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,563 KES 202.2K

26.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,155 KES 149.5K

25.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$308 KES 39.9K

95.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-57.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Narok: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $230 in Narok. 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 95% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Narok. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $166 in Narok – so Narok 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 Narok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Narok, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $908 in Narok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $57.8 in Narok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 Narok, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Narok 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. Narok costs $606 versus $932 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 Narok. 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.