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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 32.8% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 84.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 37.8% more expensive than Thimphu without rent, and 75.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$2.95 BTN 274

-31.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$17.81 BTN 1,655

2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿244

$3.60 BTN 335

112.50%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.3

$1.46 BTN 136

31.51%

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

$0.84 ฿26.90

$0.48 BTN 44.94

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.17 BTN 15.40

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$2.99 BTN 278

-26.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$2.38 BTN 221

59.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$0.80 BTN 74.4

105.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$0.94 BTN 87.8

72.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.88

$0.68 BTN 63.5

69.12%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$1.97 BTN 183

-1.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

$3.37 BTN 313

373.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$3.95 BTN 367

-21.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$4.34 BTN 403

155.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.5

$2.55 BTN 237

6.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.69

$1.45 BTN 135

-18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$1.84 BTN 170

-7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$0.78 BTN 72.8

106.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.53

$0.52 BTN 48.67

167.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.70

$0.61 BTN 56.6

88.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.76

$0.45 BTN 41.85

57.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.32 BTN 29.44

71.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$3.76 BTN 349

21.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿603

$3.24 BTN 301

482.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$0.59 BTN 54.9

208.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$1.03 BTN 96.1

211.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.16

$1.78 BTN 165

-50.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

$3.96 BTN 368

377.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.17

$0.90 BTN 83.6

56.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.59

$2.25 BTN 209

-42.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$0.15 BTN 14.28

5366.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.18

$0.92 BTN 85.2

33.70%

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

$21.2K ฿677.0K

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

$22.3K ฿713.3K

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

$22.68 BTN 2,107

208.07%

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

$14.07 ฿450

$38.19 BTN 3,548

-63.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$26.71 BTN 2,481

-33.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$48.39 BTN 4,496

-14.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

$7.45 BTN 692

-10.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$3.60 BTN 334

59.44%

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

$299 ฿9,566

$240 BTN 22.3K

24.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿479.8K

$678 BTN 63.0K

2112.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$9.50 BTN 882

477.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿842

$11.49 BTN 1,068

129.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,706

$32.45 BTN 3,015

160.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,229

$31.74 BTN 2,949

119.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$118 BTN 10.9K

263.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,697

$63.4 BTN 5,888

279.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$199 BTN 18.5K

306.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$138 BTN 12.8K

261.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

$635 BTN 59.0K

218.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

$258 BTN 24.0K

490.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$517 BTN 48.0K

23.58%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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