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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 59.7% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 89.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 44.8% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 72.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$2.94 BTN 267

-32.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$17.45 BTN 1,583

7.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$3.57 BTN 324

121.85%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$1.41 BTN 128

43.26%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.48 BTN 43.59

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.17 BTN 15.34

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$2.99 BTN 272

-25.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$2.27 BTN 206

58.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$0.82 BTN 74.1

103.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$0.96 BTN 87.1

68.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$0.73 BTN 65.9

64.38%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.08 BTN 188

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$3.25 BTN 295

392.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$3.90 BTN 354

-18.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$4.20 BTN 381

160.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$2.48 BTN 225

7.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.47 BTN 133

-19.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$1.84 BTN 167

-10.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$0.77 BTN 69.9

106.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$0.49 BTN 44.52

169.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$0.56 BTN 51.3

112.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$0.46 BTN 41.38

54.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.32 BTN 28.92

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$3.84 BTN 349

20.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$3.24 BTN 294

485.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$0.62 BTN 56.6

185.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$1.04 BTN 94.0

207.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$1.77 BTN 161

-49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$3.93 BTN 356

389.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$0.88 BTN 80.1

54.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$2.30 BTN 209

-41.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$0.19 BTN 16.83

4189.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$0.89 BTN 81.2

37.08%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$23.17 BTN 2,102

203.41%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$38.16 BTN 3,463

-63.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$26.42 BTN 2,398

-31.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$48.86 BTN 4,433

-14.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$7.36 BTN 668

-7.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$3.56 BTN 323

60.67%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$242 BTN 21.9K

27.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$657 BTN 59.6K

2154.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$9.06 BTN 822

516.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$11.71 BTN 1,063

128.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$32.32 BTN 2,933

161.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$32.40 BTN 2,940

118.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$115 BTN 10.4K

275.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$63.9 BTN 5,800

270.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$200 BTN 18.1K

306.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$137 BTN 12.4K

265.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

$573 BTN 52.0K

284.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

$111 BTN 10.1K

1344.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$525 BTN 47.7K

30.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.75

-53.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: January 11, 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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