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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 37.1% cheaper than Wanaka without rent, and 52.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 44.5% cheaper than Wanaka without rent, and 53.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$12.03 NZ$19.84
-83.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$60.5 NZ$99.7
-68.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.16 NZ$15.11
-16.27%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.27 NZ$5.4
-39.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.74 NZ$2.87
-52.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.94 NZ$3.2
-82.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$7.29 NZ$12.02
-70.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.99 NZ$9.88
-37.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.07 NZ$3.41
-20.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.88 NZ$3.1
-16.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.91 NZ$3.15
-37.70%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$5.57 NZ$9.18
-64.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.28 NZ$13.65
93.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$10.64 NZ$17.56
-70.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.19 NZ$21.75
-15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.96 NZ$4.89
-6.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.17 NZ$3.58
-43.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.28 NZ$5.4
-47.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.42 NZ$7.29
-64.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.99 NZ$3.29
-32.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.08 NZ$3.43
-41.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.46 NZ$4.05
-70.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.11 NZ$1.82
-52.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$24.45 NZ$40.32
-80.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$8.51 NZ$14.04
116.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.6 NZ$4.29
-31.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.71 NZ$6.11
-13.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.08 NZ$3.43
-54.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$63.3 NZ$104
-70.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.64 NZ$4.35
-46.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.14 NZ$1.88
18.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$29.78 NZ$49.11
-73.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.74 NZ$2.86
-28.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$19.6K NZ$32.4K
7.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$25.7K NZ$42.4K
-14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$104 NZ$171
-31.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$35.34 NZ$58.3
-61.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$56.1 NZ$92.6
-68.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$41.88 NZ$69.1
-0.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$11.98 NZ$19.76
-42.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$9.84 NZ$16.23
-41.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$582 NZ$960
-47.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
20.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$65.4 NZ$108
-15.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$35.05 NZ$57.8
-24.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$73.6 NZ$121
15.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$79.3 NZ$131
-9.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,056 NZ$1,741
-58.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$855 NZ$1,411
-72.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,982 NZ$3,269
-58.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,752 NZ$2,890
-71.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$4,252 NZ$7,012
-48.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$3,842 NZ$6,336
-59.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Wanaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,747 NZ$7,830
-85.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4
25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Wanaka: October 27, 2025

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