Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Palmerston North Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Palmerston North

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 40.5% cheaper than Palmerston North without rent, and 47.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 43.9% cheaper than Palmerston North without rent, and 50.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$16.86 NZ$27.81
-88.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$72.1 NZ$119
-73.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$12.27 NZ$20.23
-37.49%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.44 NZ$5.67
-42.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.37 NZ$3.91
-65.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.08 NZ$3.43
-84.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$7.32 NZ$12.07
-71.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$6.32 NZ$10.42
-40.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.92 NZ$3.16
-14.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.05 NZ$3.39
-23.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.81 NZ$2.99
-34.25%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$5.41 NZ$8.92
-63.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.35 NZ$13.77
91.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$9.37 NZ$15.46
-66.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$12.3 NZ$20.28
-9.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.52 NZ$4.16
9.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.81 NZ$2.99
-32.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.56 NZ$4.22
-33.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.41 NZ$5.63
-54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.17 NZ$3.57
-38.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.18 NZ$3.59
-44.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.14 NZ$3.53
-66.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1 NZ$1.66
-47.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$20.09 NZ$33.14
-76.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$8.77 NZ$14.47
109.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.46 NZ$4.06
-27.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$5.25 NZ$8.66
-38.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$4.64 NZ$7.65
-79.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$30.49 NZ$50.3
-38.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.36 NZ$3.89
-39.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.8 NZ$2.97
-25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$17.23 NZ$28.42
-54.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.65 NZ$2.73
-24.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$18.8K NZ$31K
12.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$21.6K NZ$35.7K
0.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$89.5 NZ$148
-21.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$38 NZ$62.7
-63.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$48.26 NZ$79.6
-63.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$35 NZ$57.7
18.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$12.95 NZ$21.37
-46.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$8.9 NZ$14.68
-34.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$999 NZ$1,648
-69.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$6,262 NZ$10.3K
134.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$56.2 NZ$92.7
-1.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$38.3 NZ$63.2
-31.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$92.6 NZ$153
-8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$93.4 NZ$154
-23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$836 NZ$1,379
-48.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$695 NZ$1,146
-66.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,565 NZ$2,581
-47.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,386 NZ$2,286
-64.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,102 NZ$3,466
3.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$2,444 NZ$4,032
-36.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Palmerston North
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$2,487 NZ$4,101
-71.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.69
-25.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palmerston North: October 29, 2025

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