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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 37.2% cheaper than Rarotonga without rent, and 35.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 37.5% cheaper than Rarotonga without rent, and 30% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$12.08 NZ$19.92
-83.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$61 NZ$101
-69.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.48 NZ$12.34
2.54%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.24 NZ$7
-53.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$3.28 NZ$5.41
-75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.73 NZ$4.5
-87.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.82 NZ$11.24
-68.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.51 NZ$9.09
-32.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.25 NZ$3.7
-27.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.86 NZ$4.71
-45.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.47 NZ$2.42
-19.05%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$6.61 NZ$10.9
-70.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.8 NZ$14.51
81.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$7.41 NZ$12.23
-57.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.16 NZ$11.81
55.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.04 NZ$5.02
-9.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$3.03 NZ$5
-59.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.65 NZ$6.03
-53.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.06 NZ$5.05
-49.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.85 NZ$3.05
-27.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.43 NZ$2.35
-15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.85 NZ$3.04
-61.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$3.72 NZ$6.13
-85.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$15 NZ$24.74
-68.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$8.84 NZ$14.58
108.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$3.56 NZ$5.87
-49.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$5.55 NZ$9.16
-42.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$3.08 NZ$5.09
-69.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$21.13 NZ$34.86
-93.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$36.36 NZ$60
-78.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.83 NZ$3.02
-31.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$12K NZ$19.8K
76.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$89.4 NZ$147
-21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$29.83 NZ$49.21
-54.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$105 NZ$173
-83.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$24.69 NZ$40.72
68.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$23.92 NZ$39.45
-71.15%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$6.79 NZ$11.19
-14.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$1,442 NZ$2,378
919.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$481 NZ$793
-9.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$486 NZ$802
-51.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$731 NZ$1,205
12.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$724 NZ$1,194
-31.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rarotonga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8
-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rarotonga: October 29, 2025

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