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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,355 in Rarotonga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,003 in Rarotonga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,650 in Rarotonga, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 38% cheaper than Rarotonga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Rarotonga is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$12.13 NZ$20.50

-83.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$59.4 NZ$100

-68.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$7.72 NZ$13.04

-2.85%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$4.42 NZ$7.48

-56.33%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$3.42 NZ$5.77

-77.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$2.89 NZ$4.88

-88.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$6.67 NZ$11.28

-67.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$5.53 NZ$9.34

-32.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$2.20 NZ$3.72

-22.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$2.87 NZ$4.84

-45.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.49 NZ$2.51

-20.81%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$6.48 NZ$10.95

-69.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$8.89 NZ$15.02

80.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$7.05 NZ$11.92

-55.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$7.15 NZ$12.09

53.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$3.05 NZ$5.15

-13.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$3.03 NZ$5.12

-61.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$3.68 NZ$6.21

-55.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.94 NZ$4.97

-47.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$1.78 NZ$3.01

-22.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$1.38 NZ$2.33

-15.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.76 NZ$2.97

-62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$3.69 NZ$6.23

-86.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$14.84 NZ$25.07

-69.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$11.95 NZ$20.19

53.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$3.56 NZ$6.01

-49.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$5.46 NZ$9.22

-41.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$2.96 NZ$5.00

-69.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$20.86 NZ$35.26

-93.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$36.20 NZ$61.2

-77.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.86 NZ$3.15

-31.18%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$12.3K NZ$20.8K

73.35%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$92.0 NZ$155

-24.75%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$30.46 NZ$51.5

-54.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$105 NZ$178

-82.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$25.30 NZ$42.76

67.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$23.83 NZ$40.28

-72.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$7.13 NZ$12.05

-16.97%

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,433 NZ$2,422

936.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$491 NZ$829

-11.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$474 NZ$801

-49.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$718 NZ$1,214

11.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$722 NZ$1,220

-30.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$4,055 NZ$6,853

-84.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Rarotonga: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $491 in Rarotonga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 546% higher in Rarotonga, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $59 in Rarotonga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $341 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rarotonga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rarotonga costs about 60% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,033 in Rarotonga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $845 in Chiang Mai and $1,355 in Rarotonga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Rarotonga, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Rarotonga at $1,355. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rarotonga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,355 in Rarotonga. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rarotonga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.