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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $504 in Nordragota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,203 in Nordragota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,903 in Nordragota, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Nordragota, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nordragota are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Nordragota 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$18.78 FOK 120

-89.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$168 FOK 1,075

-88.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$15.76 FOK 101

-50.38%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$6.81 FOK 43.66

-71.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.81 FOK 24.42

-77.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$9.09 FOK 58.3

-76.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$9.18 FOK 58.9

-59.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.13 FOK 13.66

-19.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$4.52 FOK 28.98

-63.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$13.42 FOK 86.0

-76.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,146 FOK 7,345

-46.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nordragota: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 86% higher in Nordragota, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $168 in Nordragota. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $134 in Nordragota – so Nordragota 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 Nordragota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Nordragota, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $756 in Nordragota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $504 in Nordragota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 84% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $504 in Nordragota, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nordragota costs $504 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Nordragota. 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.