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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 56.1% more expensive than Pokhara without rent, and 78.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 53.8% more expensive than Pokhara without rent, and 76.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$1.77 NPR 260
14.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$14.71 NPR 2,167
26.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$6.62 NPR 976
12.99%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.05 NPR 155
90.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.50 NPR 73.7
70.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.16 NPR 23.68
118.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$2.60 NPR 383
-15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$3.60 NPR 531
4.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$0.79 NPR 116
117.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$0.59 NPR 86.7
176.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.73 NPR 108
58.90%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.71 NPR 252
15.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$6.58 NPR 970
142.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$3.22 NPR 474
-1.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$6.01 NPR 885
81.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$2.28 NPR 336
16.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.09 NPR 160
11.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.25 NPR 185
36.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.64 NPR 94.4
148.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.42 NPR 61.7
214.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$0.72 NPR 106
62.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.41 NPR 60.4
65.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.27 NPR 39.82
107.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.88 NPR 424
56.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$11.22 NPR 1,653
69.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$2.26 NPR 333
-21.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$3.21 NPR 473
-0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.23 NPR 33.62
317.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$21.79 NPR 3,211
-13.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$2.22 NPR 327
-38.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.87 NPR 129
55.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$3.74 NPR 551
114.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.28 NPR 188
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$32.3K NPR 4.8M
-34.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$38.6K NPR 5.7M
-43.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$32.49 NPR 4,787
119.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$4.87 NPR 717
189.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$7.85 NPR 1,157
122.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$22.09 NPR 3,256
90.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$8.93 NPR 1,316
-22.96%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$2.79 NPR 410
112.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$52.7 NPR 7,767
483.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$2,195 NPR 323.4K
574.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$20.93 NPR 3,084
165.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$27.89 NPR 4,111
-3.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$39.98 NPR 5,892
108.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$34.25 NPR 5,047
104.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$143 NPR 21.0K
199.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$95.5 NPR 14.1K
148.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$264 NPR 38.9K
204.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$178 NPR 26.2K
183.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,880 NPR 277.0K
9.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$643 NPR 94.8K
138.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$190 NPR 28.0K
244.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
12.08
-58.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Pokhara: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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