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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $353 in Rundu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $637 in Rundu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $922 in Rundu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Rundu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Rundu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Rundu 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$15.29 NAD 246

-86.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$31.30 NAD 504

-36.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.03 NAD 97.2

-2.99%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.12 NAD 34.15

-16.98%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.71 NAD 11.48

4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.59 NAD 9.50

-44.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$0.97 NAD 15.58

154.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.21 NAD 19.51

220.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.76 NAD 12.27

119.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$4.74 NAD 76.3

-71.52%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$3.14 NAD 50.5

-31.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$4.30 NAD 69.3

269.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.92 NAD 79.2

-42.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$5.03 NAD 81.0

109.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.21 NAD 35.60

7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$2.22 NAD 35.77

-51.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.27 NAD 20.52

19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.91 NAD 14.67

64.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$5.11 NAD 82.3

-74.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.97 NAD 15.63

13.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.61 NAD 9.78

13.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$1.08 NAD 17.32

-54.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.26 NAD 20.29

238.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$4.03 NAD 64.9

316.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.28 NAD 20.55

29.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.52 NAD 24.52

84.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

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

$13.19 ฿433

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

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

$805 ฿26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Rundu: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Rundu. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Rundu – so Rundu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Rundu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Rundu, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $529 in Rundu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $920 in Chiang Mai and $353 in Rundu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Rundu, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Rundu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rundu costs $353 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. 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 Rundu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.