Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nizwa

For one person, living is cheaper in Nizwa: $44.08 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most 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

$925

/mo nomad

Nizwa

🇴🇲 Oman

$44.08

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $44 in Nizwa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Nizwa $44

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $65 in Nizwa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Nizwa $65

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $86 in Nizwa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Nizwa $86

Chiang Mai costs about 1999% more than Nizwa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nizwa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Nizwa 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿77.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿664

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿190

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.2

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

$0.70 ฿23.65

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-33.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.35

$0.27 OMR 0.10

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿81.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿66.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿44.10

Eggs

$2.18 ฿73.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿563

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿93.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿308

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿55.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.61

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.44

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿146

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿53.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿29.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,800

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿48.49

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

$20.7K ฿700.5K

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

$26.8K ฿905.6K

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

$62.3 ฿2,106

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

$12.11 ฿409

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿674

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,252

$38.77 OMR 14.92

-4.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿128

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿220

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

$793 ฿26.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿500.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,816

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,070

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,404

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿20.0K

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 17, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Nizwa

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Nizwa

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Nizwa

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Nizwa

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Nizwa

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Nizwa

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Nizwa

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇴🇲 Nizwa

🕒 Local time

03:11 3:11 AM

00:11 12:11 AM

3 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

700,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1 OMR = 2.6 USD

1 OMR = 2.32 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

OMR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 33.79 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.83 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.431 OMR (1 OMR = 2.32 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Nizwa 4,320 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Nizwa

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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1999% more than Nizwa, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $66 in Nizwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $44 in Nizwa to $925 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.