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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $495 in Nordragota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,173 in Nordragota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,852 in Nordragota, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 74% more than Nordragota, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Nordragota are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nordragota 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$18.64 FOK 122

-89.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$173 FOK 1,129

-89.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$15.78 FOK 103

-52.60%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$7.07 FOK 46.17

-71.43%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$3.85 FOK 25.15

-77.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$9.05 FOK 59.1

-76.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$9.14 FOK 59.7

-60.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.14 FOK 13.95

-22.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$4.53 FOK 29.61

-65.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$13.41 FOK 87.6

-77.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,120 FOK 7,311

-48.25%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nordragota: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 93% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $173 in Nordragota. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 74% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $742 in Nordragota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $495 in Nordragota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 82% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $495 in Nordragota, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nordragota costs $495 versus $861 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.