🙂A single person spends $393 per month in Gaur vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $650 per month in Gaur vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $906 per month in Gaur vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Gaur is about 54% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Gaur and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gaur71% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80NPR 277
$1.96฿65.9
-8.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.27NPR 2,960
$18.35฿617
5.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.69NPR 1,028
$7.48฿252
-10.56%
Cappuccino
$1.55NPR 239
$2.02฿67.8
-23.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53NPR 81.6
$0.85฿28.52
-37.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 28.27
$0.36฿11.97
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55NPR 392
$2.14฿71.9
19.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63NPR 557
$3.59฿121
1.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80NPR 123
$1.65฿55.5
-51.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54NPR 83.5
$1.57฿52.7
-65.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78NPR 119
$1.19฿40.05
-34.45%
Eggs
$1.72NPR 264
$1.94฿65.1
-11.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63NPR 1,171
$16.19฿545
-52.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08NPR 474
$2.99฿101
3.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29NPR 966
$10.94฿368
-42.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30NPR 353
$2.71฿91.2
-15.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 167
$1.17฿39.27
-6.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26NPR 193
$1.69฿56.8
-25.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65NPR 99.5
$1.60฿54.0
-59.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48NPR 74.5
$1.38฿46.56
-65.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63NPR 97.0
$1.20฿40.47
-47.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53NPR 81.6
$0.67฿22.51
-20.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.48
$0.56฿18.74
-51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99NPR 460
$4.64฿156
-35.56%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37NPR 364
$1.86฿62.6
27.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33NPR 511
$3.30฿111
0.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18NPR 27.96
$0.88฿29.70
-79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23NPR 342
$1.36฿45.92
63.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81NPR 124
$1.34฿45.00
-39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.58NPR 550
$8.21฿276
-56.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27NPR 195
$1.22฿41.20
4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KNPR 4.9M
$21.4K฿718.5K
48.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KNPR 6.2M
$22.5K฿758.1K
79.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.21NPR 4,026
$70.7฿2,378
-62.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.79NPR 735
$14.04฿472
-65.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.76NPR 1,499
$17.49฿589
-44.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.05NPR 2,772
$42.15฿1,418
-57.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.67NPR 410
$5.92฿199
-54.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$71.3NPR 11.0K
$309฿10.4K
-76.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,783NPR 427.5K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-81.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.12NPR 3,859
$55.8฿1,876
-54.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.19NPR 4,177
$26.11฿879
4.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.34NPR 7,118
$83.0฿2,793
-44.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.88NPR 4,437
$70.5฿2,371
-59.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$104NPR 16.0K
$432฿14.5K
-75.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.7NPR 9,792
$239฿8,040
-73.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207NPR 31.8K
$822฿27.7K
-74.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145NPR 22.3K
$512฿17.2K
-71.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gaur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
5
141.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gaur: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $104 in Gaur versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Gaur versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $133 in Gaur vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Gaur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Gaur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gaur or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Gaur, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gaur and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $590 per month in Gaur and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gaur or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gaur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Gaur and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Gaur and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gaur or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 82% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Gaur or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $393 in Gaur and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gaur or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gaur costs $393 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gaur compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Gaur or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Gaur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.