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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,274 per month in Kununurra vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,287 per month in Kununurra vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,301 per month in Kununurra vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kununurra costs about 168% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kununurra sits 71% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.15 A$23.02
$1.96 ฿64.1
723.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 A$113
$18.39 ฿603
332.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 A$14.32
$7.87 ฿258
27.70%
Cappuccino
$3.50 A$4.99
$1.95 ฿63.9
79.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 A$3.70
$0.85 ฿27.80
205.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 A$3.00
$0.32 ฿10.61
559.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.46 A$9.21
$2.14 ฿70.2
201.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 A$10.03
$3.68 ฿121
91.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.11
$1.66 ฿54.4
-10.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.34 A$3.33
$1.56 ฿51.1
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 A$2.92
$1.19 ฿38.95
72.27%
Eggs
$4.46 A$6.35
$1.99 ฿65.2
124.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 A$12.36
$16.24 ฿532
-46.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.30 A$11.84
$3.17 ฿104
161.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.80 A$19.66
$10.84 ฿355
27.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.73
$2.65 ฿87.0
25.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 A$4.07
$1.22 ฿40.00
134.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.25
$1.65 ฿54.1
80.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 A$5.95
$1.55 ฿50.7
169.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 A$3.61
$1.33 ฿43.53
90.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 A$3.12
$1.21 ฿39.75
80.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.06
$0.68 ฿22.22
216.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.17
$0.57 ฿18.54
168.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.77 A$36.73
$4.68 ฿154
450.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 A$20.25
$16.99 ฿557
-16.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.63 A$6.60
$1.82 ฿59.8
154.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 A$7.76
$3.18 ฿104
71.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 A$3.68
$0.91 ฿29.70
183.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.7 A$92.3
$18.74 ฿614
245.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 A$5.06
$1.41 ฿46.18
151.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 A$2.27
$1.34 ฿43.88
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.04 A$48.52
$8.14 ฿267
318.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.64
$1.28 ฿41.88
-10.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K A$41.8K
$21.8K ฿715.2K
34.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K A$31.6K
$22.4K ฿734.1K
-1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 A$263
$70.5 ฿2,310
161.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.03 A$38.52
$14.05 ฿460
92.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7 A$75.2
$17.65 ฿578
198.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.46 A$70.5
$41.29 ฿1,353
19.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 A$22.68
$6.76 ฿222
135.36%
Cinema Ticket
$12.92 A$18.42
$5.96 ฿195
116.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,606 A$2,289
$303 ฿9,928
430.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$17.2K
$15.0K ฿490.2K
-19.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0 A$98.4
$54.7 ฿1,793
26.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 A$72.5
$26.29 ฿861
93.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$144
$85.8 ฿2,811
17.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$151
$69.7 ฿2,284
51.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,258 A$1,792
$428 ฿14.0K
193.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 A$1,548
$239 ฿7,834
354.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 A$2,817
$811 ฿26.6K
143.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 A$2,356
$510 ฿16.7K
224.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,515 A$7,861
$2,025 ฿66.4K
172.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,788 A$6,824
$1,502 ฿49.2K
218.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kununurra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$623 ฿20.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
5
26.80%

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

Last update for Kununurra: June 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,258 in Kununurra versus $428 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 $79.0 in Kununurra versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $242 – making Chiang Mai 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
Kununurra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kununurra or Chiang Mai?
Kununurra costs about 168% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Kununurra and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,411 per month in Kununurra and $1,272 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kununurra or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kununurra and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,606 per month in Kununurra and $303 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kununurra or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Kununurra, 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 $1,000/month in Kununurra or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Kununurra at $2,274. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kununurra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kununurra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $2,274 in Kununurra. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kununurra 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 Kununurra or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kununurra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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