Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tulsipur

For one person, living is cheaper in Tulsipur: $23.54 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Tulsipur

🇳🇵 Nepal

$23.54

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Tulsipur

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Tulsipur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $24 in Tulsipur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Tulsipur $24

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $41 in Tulsipur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Tulsipur $41

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $59 in Tulsipur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Tulsipur $59

Chiang Mai costs about 3874% more than Tulsipur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tulsipur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tulsipur 98% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$0.64 NPR 97.4

215.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$0.25 NPR 37.52

464.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$1.16 NPR 176

104.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

$2.00 NPR 302

33.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

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

$11.60 ฿388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

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

$727 ฿24.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Tulsipur: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Tulsipur

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Tulsipur

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Tulsipur

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Tulsipur

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Tulsipur

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Tulsipur

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Tulsipur

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇵 Tulsipur

🕒 Local time

19:04 7:04 PM

17:49 5:49 PM

1 h 15 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

39,058

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NPR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 151 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD). 1 EUR = 170 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Tulsipur 1,990 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Tulsipur

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tulsipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3874% more than Tulsipur, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $35 in Tulsipur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $24 in Tulsipur. That makes Tulsipur about 97% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 905% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $24 in Tulsipur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $24 in Tulsipur to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.