Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Navua

For one person, living is cheaper in Navua: $66.2 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Navua

🇫🇯 Fiji

$66.2

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Navua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Navua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $66.2 in Navua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Navua $66.2

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $110 in Navua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Navua $110

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $153 in Navua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Navua $153

Chiang Mai costs about 1298% more than Navua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Navua are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Navua 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$6.35 FJD 14.21

-11.65%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.57 FJD 1.28

147.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$3.11 FJD 6.96

-29.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$4.74 FJD 10.61

-65.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.48 FJD 3.31

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.89 FJD 1.99

44.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

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

$12.11 ฿405

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

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

$793 ฿26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Navua: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Navua

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Navua

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Navua

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Navua

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Navua

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Navua

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Navua

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇫🇯 Navua

🕒 Local time

03:30 3:30 AM

08:30 8:30 AM

5 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

5,812

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Fijian Dollar FJD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 FJD = 0.447 USD

1 FJD = 0.397 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Navua 9,570 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Navua

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Navua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1298% more than Navua, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.3 in Navua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $925 in Chiang Mai and $66.2 in Navua. That's a gap of about 1298%.

Groceries cost about 399% 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 Navua, where all-in costs run around $66.2, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Navua 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. Navua costs $66.2 versus $925 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 Navua. 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.