🙂A single person spends $254 per month in Nalut vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $405 per month in Nalut vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $556 per month in Nalut vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nalut is about 70% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Nalut and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nalut81% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70LYD 17.18
$1.96฿65.7
37.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.35฿616
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.35LYD 14.99
$7.48฿251
-68.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12LYD 7.13
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74LYD 4.73
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.38LYD 2.42
$2.02฿67.7
-81.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38LYD 2.44
$0.85฿28.45
-55.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.36฿11.94
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89LYD 5.69
$1.65฿55.4
-46.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27LYD 1.70
$1.57฿52.6
-82.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02LYD 6.50
$1.19฿39.95
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.08LYD 6.86
$1.94฿65.0
-44.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.12LYD 26.24
$16.19฿544
-74.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.74LYD 23.80
$2.99฿100
25.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.45LYD 53.8
$10.94฿367
-22.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85LYD 11.80
$2.71฿91.0
-31.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12LYD 7.15
$1.17฿39.18
-4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65LYD 4.14
$1.69฿56.6
-61.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47LYD 3.00
$1.60฿53.9
-70.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52LYD 3.32
$1.38฿46.45
-62.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39LYD 2.50
$1.20฿40.38
-67.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48LYD 3.05
$0.67฿22.46
-28.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31LYD 1.95
$0.56฿18.70
-44.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09LYD 6.94
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41LYD 9.01
$4.64฿156
-69.61%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿591
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35LYD 2.24
$0.88฿29.63
-60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LYD 5.58
$1.36฿45.82
-35.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00LYD 6.40
$1.34฿44.90
-25.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.20
$1.22฿41.11
-97.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.0KLYD 82.8K
$21.4K฿716.8K
-39.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.6KLYD 86.9K
$22.5K฿756.3K
-39.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.7฿2,372
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.04฿471
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.62LYD 119
$17.49฿587
6.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.15LYD 45.52
$42.15฿1,415
-83.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.70LYD 17.22
$5.92฿199
-54.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$309฿10.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿499.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.96LYD 293
$55.8฿1,872
-17.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.55LYD 214
$26.11฿877
28.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.64LYD 253
$83.0฿2,787
-52.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.94LYD 274
$70.5฿2,365
-39.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,020
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nalut
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nalut: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
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
Nalut vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nalut or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 238% more than Nalut, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Nalut and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $382 per month in Nalut and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Nalut compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $254 in Nalut and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Nalut or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 131% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Nalut or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $254 in Nalut and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nalut or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nalut costs $254 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nalut 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 Nalut or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nalut. 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.