🙂A single person spends $772 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,256 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,740 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nakhon Ratchasima is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nakhon Ratchasima42% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99฿97.6
$1.96฿64.0
52.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.60฿902
$18.81฿615
46.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13฿200
$7.92฿259
-22.60%
Cappuccino
$2.07฿67.6
$1.91฿62.6
8.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.08
$0.84฿27.41
-34.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.43
$0.35฿11.51
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86฿60.9
$2.21฿72.1
-15.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51฿81.9
$3.80฿124
-33.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿54.4
$1.64฿53.5
1.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30฿42.48
$1.62฿53.1
-19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26฿41.13
$1.18฿38.62
6.78%
Eggs
$1.56฿51.0
$2.01฿65.8
-22.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.50฿507
$15.89฿520
-2.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44฿112
$3.01฿98.5
14.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.17฿365
$10.77฿352
3.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19฿104
$2.61฿85.5
22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29฿42.17
$1.22฿39.88
5.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99฿65.0
$1.70฿55.7
17.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39฿45.53
$1.58฿51.5
-12.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48฿48.39
$1.32฿43.14
12.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.58
$1.17฿38.23
3.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37฿44.92
$0.67฿21.98
104.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39฿12.64
$0.56฿18.32
-30.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86฿93.6
$4.53฿148
-36.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿614
$18.20฿595
3.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77฿57.8
$1.83฿60.0
-3.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29฿75.0
$3.23฿106
-29.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48฿15.65
$0.89฿29.00
-46.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.39฿667
$19.38฿634
5.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05฿34.45
$1.35฿44.20
-22.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.31
$1.35฿44.05
-4.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.71฿252
$8.25฿270
-6.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25฿40.95
$1.27฿41.64
-1.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$82.6K฿2.7M
$21.2K฿691.8K
290.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K฿904.0K
$22.5K฿735.3K
22.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.2฿2,524
$70.2฿2,294
10.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$13.77฿450
-1.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.53฿606
$17.60฿575
5.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.00฿1,570
$41.57฿1,360
15.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.28฿500
$6.60฿216
131.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94฿162
$5.78฿189
-14.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186฿6,082
$306฿10.0K
-39.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,278฿303.4K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-37.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.87฿977
$54.4฿1,778
-45.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.72฿645
$26.14฿855
-24.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0฿2,617
$84.5฿2,764
-5.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.78฿1,432
$69.4฿2,270
-36.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213฿6,976
$424฿13.9K
-49.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165฿5,400
$238฿7,788
-30.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509฿16.7K
$825฿27.0K
-38.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$515฿16.8K
-16.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,382฿110.6K
$2,049฿67.0K
65.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,757฿57.5K
$1,523฿49.8K
15.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nakhon Ratchasima
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$632฿20.7K
$635฿20.8K
-0.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.1
5
2.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Nakhon Ratchasima: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Nakhon Ratchasima 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 1% 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 $28.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Nakhon Ratchasima vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Nakhon Ratchasima, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,158 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nakhon Ratchasima, 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 Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima and $306 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 Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $772 in Nakhon Ratchasima and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nakhon Ratchasima costs $772 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nakhon Ratchasima. 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.
Nakhon Ratchasima vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado