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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 63.6% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 87.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 41.7% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 75.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.99 BTN 253
-32.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$17.4 BTN 1,469
7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$3.45 BTN 291
122.32%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.42 BTN 120
39.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.48 BTN 40.16
70.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.15 BTN 12.3
120.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.99 BTN 252
-29.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.3 BTN 194
62.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.79 BTN 67.1
107.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.9 BTN 76.4
74.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.7 BTN 59
70.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.07 BTN 175
-4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$3.24 BTN 274
393.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.82 BTN 322
-18.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$4.31 BTN 364
158.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.56 BTN 216
7.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.45 BTN 122
-15.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.89 BTN 160
-9.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.73 BTN 61.9
112.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.49 BTN 41.36
173.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.56 BTN 47.35
116.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.43 BTN 35.93
67.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.31 BTN 26.49
70.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$3.71 BTN 313
27.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$3.45 BTN 291
433.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$0.63 BTN 53
184.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.03 BTN 86.7
211.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.78 BTN 150
-47.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$3.89 BTN 328
385.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.84 BTN 70.7
69.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$2.22 BTN 188
-39.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$0.19 BTN 16.32
4031.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.97 BTN 82
28.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$23.2 BTN 1,959
204.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$37.33 BTN 3,152
-63.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$26.73 BTN 2,256
-34.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$47.79 BTN 4,034
-12.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$7.63 BTN 644
-9.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.46 BTN 292
67.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$239 BTN 20.1K
29.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$674 BTN 56.9K
2081.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$9.08 BTN 767
510.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$11.62 BTN 981
127.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$31.9 BTN 2,693
166.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$32.17 BTN 2,716
123.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$118 BTN 9,987
266.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$61.9 BTN 5,225
279.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$197 BTN 16.6K
316.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$141 BTN 11.9K
252.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$593 BTN 50K
267.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$114 BTN 9,625
1253.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Thimphu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$544 BTN 45.9K
29.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.75
-53.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Thimphu: October 29, 2025

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