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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 41.1% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 86.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 46.6% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 75.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.2

$2.92 BTN 269

-30.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿588

$17.17 BTN 1,581

8.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿237

$3.42 BTN 315

118.71%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.2

$1.47 BTN 135

36.05%

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

$0.85 ฿26.81

$0.52 BTN 47.77

63.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.13

$0.17 BTN 15.45

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.0

$2.96 BTN 272

-25.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿119

$2.29 BTN 211

64.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.4

$0.86 BTN 79.3

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.7

$0.89 BTN 81.9

83.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.66

$0.68 BTN 62.7

70.59%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.6

$1.98 BTN 183

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿504

$3.23 BTN 297

393.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿100

$3.81 BTN 351

-16.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿345

$4.24 BTN 390

157.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.7

$2.53 BTN 233

4.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.70

$1.45 BTN 134

-15.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.7

$1.93 BTN 178

-11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.3

$0.78 BTN 72.0

103.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.90

$0.49 BTN 44.80

169.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿36.99

$0.62 BTN 57.0

88.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.46

$0.45 BTN 41.77

51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.64

$0.34 BTN 31.47

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿143

$3.68 BTN 339

22.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿604

$3.33 BTN 307

472.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.0

$0.63 BTN 57.8

180.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿101

$1.02 BTN 94.0

211.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.47

$1.79 BTN 164

-46.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿598

$4.01 BTN 370

371.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.98

$0.85 BTN 78.6

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.80

$2.25 BTN 208

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿254

$0.15 BTN 13.90

5253.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.34

$0.95 BTN 87.3

30.53%

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

$21.2K ฿669.8K

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

$21.8K ฿688.5K

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

$71.2 ฿2,255

$23.34 BTN 2,150

205.23%

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

$14.09 ฿446

$37.08 BTN 3,415

-62.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿553

$26.64 BTN 2,454

-34.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,332

$48.13 BTN 4,434

-12.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

$7.66 BTN 705

-10.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿188

$3.55 BTN 327

67.32%

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

$307 ฿9,728

$246 BTN 22.7K

24.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿468.2K

$678 BTN 62.4K

2083.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,762

$9.23 BTN 850

503.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿848

$11.44 BTN 1,054

134.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,634

$32.53 BTN 2,997

155.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,219

$32.25 BTN 2,971

117.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.5K

$115 BTN 10.6K

272.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,504

$62.4 BTN 5,747

280.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.4K

$200 BTN 18.4K

301.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿15.9K

$139 BTN 12.8K

260.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.2K

$643 BTN 59.2K

220.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.5K

$261 BTN 24.1K

486.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.7K

$517 BTN 47.6K

26.38%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: March 2, 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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