Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nepalgunj

For one person, living is cheaper in Nepalgunj: $173 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Nepalgunj

🇳🇵 Nepal

$173

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Nepalgunj actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $173 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Nepalgunj $173

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $289 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Nepalgunj $289

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $405 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Nepalgunj $405

Chiang Mai costs about 441% more than Nepalgunj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Nepalgunj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Nepalgunj 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$3.24 NPR 494

-30.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$7.91 NPR 1,204

140.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$6.68 NPR 1,017

-16.92%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$1.66 NPR 252

0.60%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.55 NPR 84.2

16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.12 NPR 18.68

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.24 NPR 341

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.26 NPR 496

12.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.63 NPR 96.2

209.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$0.51 NPR 77.0

160.78%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$0.78 NPR 118

192.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$1.94 NPR 295

21.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$0.65 NPR 98.5

49.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.68 NPR 104

135.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$0.69 NPR 105

117.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.18 NPR 27.07

611.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.27 NPR 41.54

307.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.18 NPR 27.32

172.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.34 NPR 52.1

155.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$10.14 NPR 1,543

267.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.66 NPR 404

143.98%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$19.58 NPR 2,980

172.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$25.84 NPR 3,933

-4.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$13.22 NPR 2,012

591.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$19.68 NPR 2,995

265.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$99.0 NPR 15.1K

495.57%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Nepalgunj

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Nepalgunj

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Nepalgunj

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Nepalgunj

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Nepalgunj

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Nepalgunj

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Nepalgunj

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Nepalgunj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $34 – making Nepalgunj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇵 Nepalgunj

🕒 Local time

03:00 3:00 AM

01:45 1:45 AM

1 h 15 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

72,503

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.57 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NPR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 152 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.57 USD). 1 EUR = 169 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Nepalgunj 2,050 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Nepalgunj

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 Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 441% more than Nepalgunj, 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $259 in Nepalgunj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $173 in Nepalgunj. That makes Nepalgunj about 82% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 580% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $173 in Nepalgunj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $173 in Nepalgunj to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Nepalgunj. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.