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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 42.8% cheaper than Nelson without rent, and 57.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 45.8% cheaper than Nelson without rent, and 55.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$20.86 NZ$34.41
-90.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$85.7 NZ$141
-78.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.4 NZ$15.5
-18.40%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.17 NZ$5.22
-37.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.66 NZ$4.39
-69.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.76 NZ$4.56
-88.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$7.34 NZ$12.1
-71.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.95 NZ$9.82
-37.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.34 NZ$3.86
-29.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.32 NZ$3.82
-32.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.25 NZ$3.71
-47.11%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$6.11 NZ$10.07
-67.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.87 NZ$16.28
62.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.07 NZ$13.31
-61.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$16.25 NZ$26.8
-31.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.6 NZ$5.94
-23.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.61 NZ$4.31
-53.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.97 NZ$4.9
-42.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$6.46 NZ$10.66
-76.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$3.73 NZ$6.15
-64.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.58 NZ$4.25
-53.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.5 NZ$4.13
-71.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.29 NZ$2.12
-58.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$29.66 NZ$48.91
-84.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.11 NZ$16.67
81.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$3.2 NZ$5.28
-44.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$4.39 NZ$7.24
-26.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.38 NZ$3.92
-60.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$63.3 NZ$104
-70.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$4.25 NZ$7.01
-66.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.81 NZ$2.98
-25.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$35.25 NZ$58.1
-77.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.72 NZ$2.83
-27.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$18.6K NZ$30.7K
13.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22K NZ$36.2K
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$222 NZ$367
-68.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$36.1 NZ$59.5
-61.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$49.67 NZ$81.9
-64.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$48.98 NZ$80.8
-14.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$20.68 NZ$34.11
-66.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$10.13 NZ$16.7
-42.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$473 NZ$780
-34.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.1K NZ$20K
21.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$59.5 NZ$98.2
-6.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$66.8 NZ$110
-60.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$133 NZ$220
-36.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$112 NZ$185
-35.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$967 NZ$1,594
-55.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$749 NZ$1,235
-68.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,446 NZ$2,384
-43.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,209 NZ$1,994
-58.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,910 NZ$4,799
-25.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$2,354 NZ$3,883
-34.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nelson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$2,850 NZ$4,701
-75.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.82
-26.69%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Nelson: October 29, 2025

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