😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $669 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,016 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,363 in Nganjuk, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Nganjuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Nganjuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Nganjuk50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$1.56Rp 27.1K
25.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$12.27Rp 212.6K
53.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$3.29Rp 57.0K
140.73%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.71Rp 29.7K
11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.50Rp 8,735
68.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.28Rp 4,855
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.50Rp 43.4K
-11.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.44Rp 59.5K
10.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.22Rp 21.1K
34.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$1.18Rp 20.4K
37.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.95Rp 16.5K
24.21%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.60Rp 27.8K
25.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$7.99Rp 138.5K
98.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$3.12Rp 54.1K
-3.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$7.71Rp 133.6K
39.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$2.37Rp 41.1K
10.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.43Rp 24.8K
-14.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.83Rp 31.7K
-7.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$1.56Rp 27.0K
1.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.32Rp 22.9K
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.89Rp 32.7K
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.98Rp 16.9K
-31.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.44Rp 7,630
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$2.53Rp 43.9K
79.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$21.98Rp 380.9K
-17.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$2.02Rp 34.9K
-9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.13Rp 54.2K
3.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.32Rp 5,574
178.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$10.12Rp 175.5K
91.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.53Rp 9,182
154.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.37Rp 6,451
264.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$2.86Rp 49.6K
188.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.81Rp 14.1K
56.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$24.5KRp 423.9M
-13.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$28.0KRp 485.0M
-19.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$69.0Rp 1.2M
1.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$4.40Rp 76.2K
212.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$23.12Rp 400.7K
-23.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$22.59Rp 391.5K
84.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$6.07Rp 105.3K
8.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$3.03Rp 52.6K
90.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$93.0Rp 1.6M
229.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$7,669Rp 132.9M
93.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$42.44Rp 735.5K
28.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$30.11Rp 521.9K
-13.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$66.4Rp 1.2M
27.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$73.5Rp 1.3M
-5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$262Rp 4.5M
61.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$156Rp 2.7M
52.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$585Rp 10.1M
40.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$339Rp 5.9M
51.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$1,104Rp 19.1M
85.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$757Rp 13.1M
101.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nganjuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$85.5Rp 1.5M
643.26%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nganjuk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $262 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 643% 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: $243 vs $210 – 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 27% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,004 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.0 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 16% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $669 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 $669 versus $852 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