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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 55.1% more expensive than Pokhara without rent, and 87.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 58.8% more expensive than Pokhara without rent, and 75.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$1.86 NPR 276
8.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$14.76 NPR 2,194
23.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$6.39 NPR 950
19.72%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.04 NPR 155
84.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.54 NPR 79.9
55.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.16 NPR 24.40
125.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$2.64 NPR 393
-17.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$3.58 NPR 532
5.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.78 NPR 116
110.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.56 NPR 82.9
189.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$0.78 NPR 116
47.44%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.72 NPR 256
12.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$6.61 NPR 983
141.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$3.22 NPR 479
-3.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$5.94 NPR 883
86.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$2.22 NPR 330
22.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.09 NPR 162
8.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.23 NPR 183
39.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$0.70 NPR 103
130.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.45 NPR 66.9
208.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$0.69 NPR 102
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.43 NPR 64.6
65.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.27 NPR 40.26
103.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.84 NPR 423
60.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$11.29 NPR 1,677
67.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$2.34 NPR 348
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$3.30 NPR 490
-2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.23 NPR 33.95
282.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$22.04 NPR 3,276
-14.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$2.24 NPR 333
-37.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$0.90 NPR 134
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$3.74 NPR 556
119.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.28 NPR 190
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$32.0K NPR 4.8M
-33.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$37.8K NPR 5.6M
-40.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$32.71 NPR 4,862
113.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$4.95 NPR 735
184.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$7.56 NPR 1,124
134.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$21.42 NPR 3,184
93.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$9.34 NPR 1,388
-28.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$2.78 NPR 414
106.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$53.1 NPR 7,885
464.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$2,142 NPR 318.3K
600.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$20.66 NPR 3,071
165.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$28.30 NPR 4,207
-6.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$40.17 NPR 5,970
110.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$34.22 NPR 5,086
103.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$139 NPR 20.7K
206.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$95.7 NPR 14.2K
151.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$272 NPR 40.4K
198.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$180 NPR 26.7K
177.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$1,880 NPR 279.5K
7.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$642 NPR 95.4K
137.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Pokhara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$181 NPR 26.9K
253.36%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Pokhara: April 14, 2026

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

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