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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 49.2% cheaper than Wellington without rent, and 63.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 53.1% cheaper than Wellington without rent, and 62.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$17.83 NZ$30.31
-88.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$84.2 NZ$143
-77.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$9.46 NZ$16.09
-20.93%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$3.65 NZ$6.21
-45.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$2.57 NZ$4.38
-66.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$2.20 NZ$3.73
-84.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$7.20 NZ$12.24
-69.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$7.44 NZ$12.65
-49.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.82 NZ$3.10
-5.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$2.04 NZ$3.47
-20.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$1.97 NZ$3.35
-41.12%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$7.24 NZ$12.31
-72.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$8.16 NZ$13.88
95.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$10.90 NZ$18.54
-70.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$13.19 NZ$22.42
-17.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$3.06 NZ$5.21
-13.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$2.36 NZ$4.01
-48.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$2.98 NZ$5.07
-42.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$4.83 NZ$8.21
-67.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$2.02 NZ$3.44
-34.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.58 NZ$2.68
-25.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$2.30 NZ$3.90
-70.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$1.29 NZ$2.20
-56.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$26.71 NZ$45.41
-83.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$10.89 NZ$18.52
75.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$3.51 NZ$5.97
-49.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$3.26 NZ$5.54
-2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$2.67 NZ$4.54
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$107 NZ$182
-82.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$2.77 NZ$4.70
-50.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$1.79 NZ$3.05
-24.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$60.9 NZ$103
-86.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.67 NZ$2.85
-25.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$33.0K NZ$56.2K
-35.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$24.9K NZ$42.3K
-12.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$155 NZ$264
-54.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$33.64 NZ$57.2
-58.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$51.1 NZ$86.8
-65.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$36.54 NZ$62.1
15.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$20.82 NZ$35.39
-66.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$12.26 NZ$20.84
-51.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$818 NZ$1,390
-62.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$12.8K NZ$21.8K
15.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$70.9 NZ$121
-21.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$53.2 NZ$90.5
-49.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$120 NZ$204
-30.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$145 NZ$247
-51.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$1,297 NZ$2,205
-67.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$1,094 NZ$1,860
-78.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$2,127 NZ$3,616
-62.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$1,916 NZ$3,257
-73.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$6,806 NZ$11.6K
-69.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$4,067 NZ$6,914
-62.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$3,107 NZ$5,282
-78.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.94
-27.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Wellington: 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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