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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $292 per month in Janakpur vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $505 per month in Janakpur vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $719 per month in Janakpur vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Janakpur is about 69% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Janakpur and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Janakpur 79% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 NPR 296

$2.08 ฿69.5

-7.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.65 NPR 1,787

$19.61 ฿655

-40.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 NPR 985

$5.67 ฿189

13.23%

Cappuccino

$1.52 NPR 234

$1.81 ฿60.3

-16.02%

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

$0.56 NPR 85.4

$0.77 ฿25.65

-27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.75

$0.35 ฿11.53

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 NPR 304

$2.21 ฿73.9

-10.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 NPR 254

$3.79 ฿127

-56.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.61 NPR 93.8

$2.05 ฿68.4

-70.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 NPR 52.3

$1.51 ฿50.6

-77.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 140

$1.40 ฿46.69

-34.29%

Eggs

$1.64 NPR 251

$2.26 ฿75.4

-27.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.21 NPR 493

$16.19 ฿540

-80.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.43 NPR 372

$2.90 ฿96.7

-16.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.05 NPR 928

$9.42 ฿314

-35.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 NPR 256

$2.68 ฿89.4

-37.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.1

$1.09 ฿36.37

-41.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 NPR 157

$1.62 ฿54.0

-36.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 81.6

$1.46 ฿48.74

-63.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 NPR 46.39

$1.28 ฿42.65

-76.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 NPR 76.3

$1.06 ฿35.31

-52.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 NPR 33.28

$0.72 ฿23.94

-69.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.39

$0.53 ฿17.56

-66.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 NPR 356

$4.23 ฿141

-45.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.81 NPR 1,198

$18.29 ฿611

-57.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 NPR 225

$1.63 ฿54.4

-9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 NPR 296

$2.90 ฿96.8

-33.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 NPR 105

$1.17 ฿39.14

-41.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 NPR 198

$0.58 ฿19.30

122.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 NPR 507

$2.39 ฿79.6

38.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 NPR 163

$1.45 ฿48.41

-26.21%

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

$23.2K NPR 3.6M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

10.62%

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

$26.1K NPR 4.0M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-1.36%

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

$13.17 NPR 2,021

$63.7 ฿2,125

-79.31%

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

$3.36 NPR 516

$12.89 ฿430

-73.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.85 NPR 591

$20.52 ฿685

-81.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.20 NPR 2,025

$39.02 ฿1,302

-66.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.58 NPR 1,010

$3.92 ฿131

67.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 NPR 461

$6.58 ฿220

-54.41%

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

$32.31 NPR 4,958

$784 ฿26.2K

-95.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,862 NPR 746.1K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-66.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.40 NPR 4,051

$55.1 ฿1,840

-52.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.41 NPR 2,518

$24.74 ฿826

-33.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.04 NPR 6,144

$94.1 ฿3,142

-57.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.03 NPR 3,534

$74.0 ฿2,469

-68.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$52.9 NPR 8,123

$490 ฿16.4K

-89.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$22.98 NPR 3,525

$288 ฿9,620

-92.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 NPR 19.9K

$891 ฿29.8K

-85.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 NPR 14.8K

$521 ฿17.4K

-81.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$332 NPR 50.9K

$602 ฿20.1K

-44.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

5.57

74.51%

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

Last update for Janakpur: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $52.9 in Janakpur versus $490 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.

Salaries run about 81% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Janakpur versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $241 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Janakpur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 219% more than Janakpur, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $438 per month in Janakpur and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Janakpur and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 118% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Janakpur, where all-in costs run around $292, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Janakpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Janakpur costs $292 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. 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.