Cost of Living Comparison Between Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $769 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,280 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,792 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nakhon Ratchasima is about 12% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nakhon Ratchasima 43% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 ฿99.0

$1.98 ฿64.3

53.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.27 ฿888

$18.80 ฿612

45.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 ฿209

$7.75 ฿252

-17.29%

Cappuccino

$2.01 ฿65.6

$1.92 ฿62.5

4.69%

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

$0.56 ฿18.10

$0.79 ฿25.79

-29.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.30

$0.36 ฿11.62

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 ฿61.7

$2.21 ฿72.1

-14.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ฿81.4

$3.66 ฿119

-31.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.0

$1.65 ฿53.8

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ฿40.88

$1.63 ฿53.2

-22.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 ฿42.48

$1.19 ฿38.86

9.24%

Eggs

$1.51 ฿49.14

$2.00 ฿65.1

-24.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.38 ฿501

$15.98 ฿520

-3.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 ฿108

$3.03 ฿98.5

9.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿371

$10.86 ฿354

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ฿108

$2.76 ฿90.0

20.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ฿42.23

$1.18 ฿38.42

10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ฿63.6

$1.64 ฿53.5

18.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.37

$1.52 ฿49.51

-4.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.87

$1.38 ฿45.10

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿37.93

$1.19 ฿38.84

-2.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 ฿45.79

$0.70 ฿22.86

101.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿12.58

$0.56 ฿18.13

-30.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ฿94.6

$4.58 ฿149

-36.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.70 ฿544

$16.56 ฿539

0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿57.5

$1.83 ฿59.5

-3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ฿77.6

$3.20 ฿104

-25.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ฿14.27

$0.88 ฿28.56

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.41 ฿665

$18.72 ฿610

9.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ฿35.56

$1.36 ฿44.16

-19.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿42.20

$1.34 ฿43.65

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.88 ฿257

$7.84 ฿256

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿40.51

$1.23 ฿39.92

0.81%

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

$81.7K ฿2.7M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

277.77%

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

$27.1K ฿883.6K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

20.33%

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

$79.2 ฿2,580

$70.5 ฿2,298

12.29%

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

$13.96 ฿455

$13.68 ฿445

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.42 ฿600

$17.45 ฿568

5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.24 ฿1,604

$41.33 ฿1,346

19.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 ฿506

$6.96 ฿227

123.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 ฿163

$5.77 ฿188

-13.17%

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

$182 ฿5,919

$307 ฿10.0K

-40.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,166 ฿298.5K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-37.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.64 ฿966

$55.8 ฿1,817

-46.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.90 ฿648

$26.21 ฿854

-24.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ฿2,572

$85.8 ฿2,793

-7.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.49 ฿1,417

$72.2 ฿2,353

-39.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 ฿7,105

$430 ฿14.0K

-49.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$165 ฿5,376

$239 ฿7,774

-30.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.2K

$817 ฿26.6K

-39.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$511 ฿16.6K

-15.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,449 ฿112.3K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

73.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 ฿56.2K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

16.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.4K

$619 ฿20.2K

1.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.1

2.00%

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

Last update for Nakhon Ratchasima: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Nakhon Ratchasima versus $430 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 Nakhon Ratchasima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Nakhon Ratchasima vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Nakhon Ratchasima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Nakhon Ratchasima vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,153 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $182 per month in Nakhon Ratchasima and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% 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 $769 in Nakhon Ratchasima and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nakhon Ratchasima costs $769 versus $869 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 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.