😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $665 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,010 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,355 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Nganjuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Nganjuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Nganjuk50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$1.57Rp 28.1K
26.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$12.08Rp 216.4K
55.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$3.45Rp 61.9K
124.64%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$1.70Rp 30.5K
12.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.55Rp 9,842
43.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.26Rp 4,651
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.49Rp 44.6K
-11.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.56Rp 63.9K
2.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.18Rp 21.2K
39.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$1.18Rp 21.1K
38.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$0.95Rp 17.0K
25.26%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.53Rp 27.4K
30.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$8.36Rp 149.7K
91.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$3.13Rp 56.0K
-3.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$8.01Rp 143.6K
35.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$2.38Rp 42.7K
15.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$1.49Rp 26.7K
-20.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-12.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.57Rp 28.1K
-3.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$1.36Rp 24.4K
1.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-36.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.90Rp 16.2K
-22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.41Rp 7,362
36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.45Rp 43.9K
86.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$19.67Rp 352.5K
-15.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$2.06Rp 36.9K
-11.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$3.10Rp 55.6K
3.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.32Rp 5,785
175.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$9.74Rp 174.6K
92.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.56Rp 10.1K
142.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.37Rp 6,638
262.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.99Rp 53.6K
162.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$0.78Rp 13.9K
57.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$24.4KRp 436.6M
-11.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$27.3KRp 488.4M
-17.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$68.7Rp 1.2M
2.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$4.37Rp 78.3K
213.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$22.53Rp 403.6K
-22.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$23.39Rp 419.0K
76.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$6.14Rp 109.9K
13.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$3.04Rp 54.5K
89.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$92.6Rp 1.7M
231.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$7,464Rp 133.7M
95.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$41.25Rp 739.1K
35.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$30.61Rp 548.4K
-14.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$66.5Rp 1.2M
29.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$74.4Rp 1.3M
-2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$255Rp 4.6M
68.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$155Rp 2.8M
53.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$586Rp 10.5M
39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$328Rp 5.9M
55.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$1,254Rp 22.5M
58.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$672Rp 12.0M
120.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$81.6Rp 1.5M
658.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.15
-45.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nganjuk: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $255 in Nganjuk. 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 658% 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 $12.00 in Nganjuk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $207 – making Nganjuk 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 Nganjuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Nganjuk, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Nganjuk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $998 in Nganjuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nganjuk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Nganjuk?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.6 in Nganjuk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
Groceries cost about 17% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $665 in Nganjuk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nganjuk costs $665 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Nganjuk?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Nganjuk?
If budget matters most, go with Nganjuk. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared