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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $307 in Natore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $480 in Natore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $654 in Natore, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 183% more than Natore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Natore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Natore 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.25 ৳153

58.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$4.90 ৳600

283.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.78 ৳586

62.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 ৳507

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ৳589

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.58 ৳194

21.52%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.30 ৳37.17

163.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.16 ৳20.20

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.55 ৳67.2

200.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.35 ৳42.60

365.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.53 ৳64.9

124.53%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.16 ৳142

72.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.75 ৳827

136.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$1.84 ৳225

64.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.62 ৳688

93.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.83 ৳224

50.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.64 ৳78.3

84.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.37 ৳168

19.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.47 ৳57.3

223.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.41 ৳49.81

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.34 ৳41.87

250.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.25 ৳30.48

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.17 ৳20.86

229.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.39 ৳1,518

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.01 ৳492

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 ৳846

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.87 ৳352

59.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.20 ৳24.46

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.40 ৳1,275

80.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.25 ৳153

8.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.39 ৳47.80

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.06 ৳375

156.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.80 ৳98.3

53.75%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$29.1K ৳3.6M

-25.70%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.1K ৳3.4M

-19.75%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$32.33 ৳3,962

118.19%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.87 ৳597

180.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$13.23 ৳1,621

31.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.19 ৳1,616

213.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.61 ৳1,422

-40.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.20 ৳514

37.38%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$16.42 ৳2,012

1770.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,962 ৳240.4K

644.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$16.49 ৳2,021

238.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$11.41 ৳1,398

129.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$23.22 ৳2,846

269.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$37.45 ৳4,589

92.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$69.0 ৳8,449

523.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$42.51 ৳5,209

461.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$162 ৳19.8K

405.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$97.4 ৳11.9K

424.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$672 ৳82.3K

195.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$200 ৳24.5K

209.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

-52.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Natore: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 in Natore. 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 209% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $5.00 in Natore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $88.0 – making Natore 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 Natore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 183% more than Natore, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $460 in Natore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $16.42 in Natore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $307 in Natore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Natore costs $307 versus $869 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 Natore. 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.