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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,048 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,519 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,991 in Nis, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Nis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nis 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.55 RSD 772

-74.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$30.06 RSD 3,073

-38.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.85 RSD 1,007

-24.06%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.90 RSD 195

6.32%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.80 RSD 184

-52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.28 RSD 131

-71.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.41 RSD 247

-11.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.01 RSD 308

19.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.33 RSD 136

24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.69 RSD 70.3

127.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.79 RSD 183

-33.52%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.40 RSD 245

-19.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.19 RSD 837

97.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.97 RSD 713

-57.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.87 RSD 1,214

-7.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.17 RSD 120

131.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.79 RSD 183

-34.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.51 RSD 154

11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.85 RSD 189

-13.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.08 RSD 110

27.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.13 RSD 116

6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.59 RSD 60.3

13.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.58 RSD 59.3

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.21 RSD 430

10.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.79 RSD 592

204.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.68 RSD 70.0

173.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.13 RSD 217

54.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.81 RSD 82.7

8.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$26.01 RSD 2,659

-25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.49 RSD 153

-8.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.45 RSD 46.07

197.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.84 RSD 699

20.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.75 RSD 179

-30.29%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

-29.02%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

-15.63%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$139 RSD 14.2K

-49.27%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$16.85 RSD 1,723

-16.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$22.12 RSD 2,262

-20.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$28.83 RSD 2,948

46.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$19.09 RSD 1,952

-63.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.91 RSD 502

20.57%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$239 RSD 24.4K

29.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,102 RSD 521.6K

191.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$89.0 RSD 9,104

-37.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$46.12 RSD 4,716

-43.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$95.6 RSD 9,772

-13.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$102 RSD 10.4K

-30.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$402 RSD 41.1K

7.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$291 RSD 29.8K

-17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$564 RSD 57.6K

45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$402 RSD 41.1K

27.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,570 RSD 262.8K

-25.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,889 RSD 193.1K

-22.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$880 RSD 89.9K

-34.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

-32.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nis: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $402 in Nis. 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 52% higher in Nis, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Nis. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $198 in Nis – so Nis wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nis costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,572 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $239 in Nis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Nis – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Nis at $1,048. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,048 in Nis. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.