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

😐 Solo nomad: Managua is 18.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 10.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Managua is 23.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98 NIO 182
$2.02 ฿65.3
146.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.91 NIO 1,279
$18.78 ฿608
85.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.16 NIO 262
$7.67 ฿248
-6.65%
Cappuccino
$2.38 NIO 87
$1.98 ฿64.2
20.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 NIO 28.55
$0.82 ฿26.64
-4.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.7 NIO 25.6
$0.33 ฿10.58
112.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 NIO 46.94
$2.12 ฿68.6
-39.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 NIO 71.6
$3.73 ฿121
-47.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 NIO 44.44
$1.64 ฿53.2
-26.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 NIO 90.2
$1.57 ฿50.9
56.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 NIO 66.6
$1.19 ฿38.62
52.94%
Eggs
$2.32 NIO 85.1
$1.98 ฿64.1
17.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.05 NIO 405
$15.99 ฿517
-30.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 NIO 243
$3.12 ฿101
112.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 NIO 292
$11.16 ฿361
-28.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 NIO 139
$2.76 ฿89.2
38.04%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 NIO 33.21
$1.22 ฿39.5
-25.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 NIO 66.7
$1.71 ฿55.4
6.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 NIO 83.3
$1.55 ฿50.2
46.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 NIO 141
$1.34 ฿43.21
186.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 NIO 82.9
$1.21 ฿39.23
86.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 NIO 37.45
$0.72 ฿23.2
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 NIO 38.24
$0.53 ฿17.05
96.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62 NIO 95.9
$4.72 ฿153
-44.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 NIO 530
$18.39 ฿595
-21.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 NIO 51.9
$1.79 ฿57.9
-20.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 NIO 82.4
$3.21 ฿104
-29.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 NIO 5.81
$0.94 ฿30.44
-82.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.89 NIO 216
$18.9 ฿612
-68.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 NIO 54.5
$1.42 ฿46.08
4.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 NIO 19.57
$1.35 ฿43.53
-60.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.83 NIO 250
$7.85 ฿254
-12.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 NIO 50.1
$1.25 ฿40.4
9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K NIO 832K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
7.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K NIO 951.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
18.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.1 NIO 3,628
$70.6 ฿2,285
40.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.31 NIO 634
$13.72 ฿444
26.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.84 NIO 1,386
$17.56 ฿568
115.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.4 NIO 1,333
$41.64 ฿1,347
-12.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.74 NIO 540
$6.9 ฿223
113.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.2 NIO 300
$5.8 ฿188
41.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 NIO 4,568
$308 ฿9,963
-59.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,884 NIO 215.5K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-59.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4 NIO 2,834
$55.4 ฿1,793
39.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.5 NIO 2,620
$26.4 ฿854
170.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 NIO 4,827
$85.1 ฿2,755
54.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 NIO 3,899
$71.8 ฿2,323
48.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 NIO 9,488
$434 ฿14K
-40.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 NIO 6,849
$235 ฿7,610
-20.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 NIO 16.2K
$821 ฿26.6K
-46.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 NIO 16.3K
$498 ฿16.1K
-10.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,185 NIO 43.4K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-45.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$439 NIO 16.1K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-71.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Managua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 NIO 13K
$703 ฿22.8K
-49.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
5
105.00%

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

Last update for Managua: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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