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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kathmandu is 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 42.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kathmandu is 31.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 41.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 NPR 243
$2.02 ฿65.3
-11.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14 NPR 2,621
$18.78 ฿608
1.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 NPR 876
$7.67 ฿248
-16.69%
Cappuccino
$1.9 NPR 260
$1.98 ฿64.2
-4.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 NPR 67.7
$0.82 ฿26.64
-40.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 NPR 26.42
$0.33 ฿10.58
-42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 NPR 352
$2.12 ฿68.6
21.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 NPR 506
$3.73 ฿121
-0.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 NPR 118
$1.64 ฿53.2
-47.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 NPR 76.6
$1.57 ฿50.9
-64.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1 NPR 136
$1.19 ฿38.62
-15.97%
Eggs
$1.86 NPR 255
$1.98 ฿64.1
-6.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 NPR 1,266
$15.99 ฿517
-42.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 NPR 444
$3.12 ฿101
3.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6 NPR 822
$11.16 ฿361
-46.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 NPR 298
$2.76 ฿89.2
-21.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 NPR 150
$1.22 ฿39.5
-10.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25 NPR 171
$1.71 ฿55.4
-26.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 NPR 87.2
$1.55 ฿50.2
-58.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 NPR 66.1
$1.34 ฿43.21
-64.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 NPR 98.1
$1.21 ฿39.23
-40.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 NPR 72.7
$0.72 ฿23.2
-26.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 NPR 37.1
$0.53 ฿17.05
-49.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 NPR 388
$4.72 ฿153
-40.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.87 NPR 941
$18.39 ฿595
-62.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 NPR 308
$1.79 ฿57.9
25.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 NPR 446
$3.21 ฿104
1.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 NPR 31.6
$0.94 ฿30.44
-75.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.83 NPR 1,483
$18.9 ฿612
-42.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 NPR 290
$1.42 ฿46.08
49.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NPR 149
$1.35 ฿43.53
-19.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 NPR 510
$7.85 ฿254
-52.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 NPR 168
$1.25 ฿40.4
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K NPR 4.5M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
54.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K NPR 5.6M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
88.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.39 NPR 4,436
$70.6 ฿2,285
-54.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5 NPR 685
$13.72 ฿444
-63.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.54 NPR 1,306
$17.56 ฿568
-45.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.14 NPR 3,031
$41.64 ฿1,347
-46.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.57 NPR 1,037
$6.9 ฿223
9.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21 NPR 440
$5.8 ฿188
-44.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$89.9 NPR 12.3K
$308 ฿9,963
-70.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,842 NPR 526.1K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-73.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.99 NPR 3,421
$55.4 ฿1,793
-54.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.03 NPR 3,838
$26.4 ฿854
6.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 NPR 8,155
$85.1 ฿2,755
-30.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.41 NPR 5,397
$71.8 ฿2,323
-45.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 NPR 27K
$434 ฿14K
-54.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$102 NPR 13.9K
$235 ฿7,610
-56.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 NPR 47.1K
$821 ฿26.6K
-58.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 NPR 25.6K
$498 ฿16.1K
-62.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,825 NPR 249.9K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-16.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,130 NPR 154.8K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-26.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kathmandu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$234 NPR 32K
$703 ฿22.8K
-66.72%
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 Kathmandu: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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