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 $297 per month in Janakpur vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $512 per month in Janakpur vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $727 per month in Janakpur vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Janakpur is about 65% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Janakpur and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Janakpur 78% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.87 NPR 282

$1.96 ฿63.6

-4.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.13 NPR 1,685

$18.81 ฿611

-40.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 NPR 1,020

$7.92 ฿258

-14.90%

Cappuccino

$1.66 NPR 252

$1.91 ฿62.2

-13.09%

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

$0.54 NPR 81.6

$0.84 ฿27.25

-35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.41

$0.35 ฿11.44

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 NPR 360

$2.21 ฿71.7

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 NPR 381

$3.80 ฿124

-33.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 NPR 96.2

$1.64 ฿53.2

-60.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 NPR 50.5

$1.62 ฿52.8

-79.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$1.18 ฿38.40

-41.53%

Eggs

$1.78 NPR 270

$2.01 ฿65.4

-11.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 NPR 659

$15.89 ฿517

-72.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.04 NPR 460

$3.01 ฿98.0

1.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.57 NPR 541

$10.77 ฿350

-66.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 NPR 250

$2.61 ฿85.0

-36.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 104

$1.22 ฿39.65

-43.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 182

$1.70 ฿55.4

-29.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 96.5

$1.58 ฿51.2

-59.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 NPR 45.89

$1.32 ฿42.89

-77.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 87.0

$1.17 ฿38.01

-51.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 NPR 34.95

$0.67 ฿21.85

-65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 NPR 36.32

$0.56 ฿18.21

-57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 NPR 381

$4.53 ฿147

-44.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.47 NPR 980

$18.20 ฿592

-64.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 NPR 290

$1.83 ฿59.6

4.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 NPR 392

$3.23 ฿105

-19.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 NPR 30.05

$0.89 ฿28.83

-77.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 NPR 108

$1.35 ฿43.95

-47.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 NPR 113

$1.35 ฿43.79

-45.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 NPR 546

$8.25 ฿268

-56.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 NPR 181

$1.27 ฿41.40

-5.51%

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

$25.5K NPR 3.9M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

20.37%

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

$29.1K NPR 4.4M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

29.25%

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

$14.84 NPR 2,247

$70.2 ฿2,281

-78.85%

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

$4.94 NPR 748

$13.77 ฿448

-64.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$4.46 NPR 675

$17.60 ฿572

-74.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.75 NPR 1,628

$41.57 ฿1,352

-74.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.13 NPR 1,079

$6.60 ฿215

8.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 NPR 455

$5.78 ฿188

-47.92%

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

$32.63 NPR 4,939

$306 ฿9,953

-89.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,775 NPR 571.5K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-74.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 NPR 3,566

$54.4 ฿1,768

-56.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.46 NPR 2,794

$26.14 ฿850

-29.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.92 NPR 4,681

$84.5 ฿2,748

-63.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.05 NPR 4,701

$69.4 ฿2,257

-55.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$38.89 NPR 5,888

$424 ฿13.8K

-90.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$21.70 NPR 3,286

$238 ฿7,743

-90.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 NPR 17.4K

$825 ฿26.8K

-86.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 NPR 13.3K

$515 ฿16.7K

-82.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 NPR 32.6K

$635 ฿20.6K

-66.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Janakpur: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $38.89 in Janakpur versus $424 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 195% 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 $11.00 in Janakpur versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $113 vs $243 – 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 187% 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 $445 per month in Janakpur and $1,278 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 $11.00 in Janakpur and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 116% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $297 in Janakpur and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Janakpur costs $297 versus $852 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.