Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Narok and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Narok: $608 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Narok, Kenya
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Narok
🇰🇪 Kenya
$608
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Narok and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Narok and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $608 per month in Narok vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Narok $608
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $922 per month in Narok vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Narok $922
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,235 per month in Narok vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Narok $1,235
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Narok is about 35% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Narok and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Narok 55% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 KES 297
$2.24 ฿75.6
2.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.64 KES 2,939
$19.00 ฿641
19.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.75 KES 617
$5.55 ฿187
-14.41%
Cappuccino
$1.93 KES 251
$1.67 ฿56.5
15.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 KES 47.87
$0.64 ฿21.53
-42.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 KES 31.18
$0.31 ฿10.30
-22.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 KES 256
$2.36 ฿79.5
-16.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 KES 292
$3.66 ฿124
-38.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 KES 98.6
$1.95 ฿65.7
-61.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 KES 62.0
$1.44 ฿48.45
-66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 KES 186
$1.33 ฿45.01
7.52%
Eggs
$1.21 KES 157
$2.28 ฿77.0
-46.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.03 KES 783
$16.45 ฿555
-63.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 KES 812
$2.78 ฿93.8
124.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.21 KES 806
$9.31 ฿314
-33.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 KES 388
$2.35 ฿79.4
27.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 KES 139
$0.97 ฿32.78
10.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 KES 264
$1.60 ฿53.9
27.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 KES 103
$1.50 ฿50.6
-47.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 KES 103
$1.28 ฿43.10
-38.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 KES 97.8
$1.10 ฿37.17
-31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 KES 97.4
$0.71 ฿23.81
5.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 KES 67.2
$0.49 ฿16.36
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.50 KES 195
$4.14 ฿140
-63.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.10 KES 921
$17.52 ฿591
-59.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 KES 246
$1.61 ฿54.5
18.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 KES 294
$2.78 ฿93.9
-18.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 KES 146
$0.87 ฿29.29
28.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.58 KES 5,008
$54.1 ฿1,825
-28.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 KES 195
$1.16 ฿39.03
30.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 KES 178
$0.53 ฿17.79
158.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 KES 148
$2.42 ฿81.7
-52.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 KES 180
$1.45 ฿48.87
-4.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K KES 2.5M
$21.1K ฿710.3K
-8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K KES 2.8M
$26.9K ฿908.7K
-21.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.2 KES 7,170
$62.2 ฿2,097
-11.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.56 KES 981
$12.17 ฿410
-37.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01 KES 2,987
$20.12 ฿679
14.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.43 KES 3,041
$37.31 ฿1,259
-37.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.35 KES 305
$3.77 ฿127
-37.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 KES 1,017
$6.49 ฿219
20.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.4 KES 7,583
$736 ฿24.8K
-92.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,728 KES 1.0M
$14.8K ฿498.0K
-47.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.58 KES 2,022
$53.4 ฿1,800
-70.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.58 KES 2,023
$24.64 ฿831
-36.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$23.13 KES 3,003
$91.5 ฿3,086
-74.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.05 KES 4,938
$71.9 ฿2,426
-47.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 KES 30.4K
$482 ฿16.3K
-51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 KES 19.7K
$309 ฿10.4K
-50.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$305 KES 39.6K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-69.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 KES 30.5K
$633 ฿21.4K
-62.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,522 KES 197.5K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-35.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,140 KES 147.9K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-28.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narok
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$310 KES 40.2K
$590 ฿19.9K
-47.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
5.57
133.39%

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

Last update for Narok: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Narok
$166
Chiang Mai
$234 41.4% $69
Accommodation & Living
Narok
$152
Chiang Mai
$309 103% $157
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narok
$86
Chiang Mai
$94 10.1% $8.6
Eating Out
Narok
$73
Chiang Mai
$78 7% $5
Getting Around
Narok
$51
Chiang Mai
$61 19.3% $9.9
Clothing & Footwear
Narok
$42
Chiang Mai
$109 162% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Narok
$39
Chiang Mai
$50 28.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Narok versus $482 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 90% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Narok versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Narok vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Narok wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Narok
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:57 6:57 PM
22:57 10:57 PM
4 h ahead of Narok
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,000
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.7 USD). 1 EUR = 145 KES (1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Narok Chiang Mai 7,230 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Narok
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Narok vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Narok or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Narok, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Narok and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $912 per month in Narok and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Narok or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Narok, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $234 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Narok and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $58 per month in Narok and $736 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 Narok or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Narok or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $608 in Narok and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Narok – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Narok or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Narok. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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