Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Navua and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Navua: $66.2 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Navua
🇫🇯 Fiji
$66.2
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Navua 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 Navua and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $66.2 per month in Navua vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Navua $66.2
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $110 per month in Navua vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Navua $110
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $153 per month in Navua vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Navua $153
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Navua is about 93% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Navua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Navua 95% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.29 ฿76.5
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.64 ฿656
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.35 FJD 14.21
$5.61 ฿188
13.19%
Cappuccino
-
$1.66 ฿55.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70 ฿23.40
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.31 ฿10.24
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41 ฿80.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.71 ฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.95 ฿65.3
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.28
$1.41 ฿47.03
-59.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.31 ฿43.62
-
Eggs
$3.11 FJD 6.96
$2.18 ฿72.9
42.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.65 ฿556
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$2.76 ฿92.2
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.11 ฿304
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.39 ฿80.0
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.03 ฿34.26
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 FJD 10.61
$1.63 ฿54.4
190.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 FJD 3.31
$1.50 ฿50.0
-1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 FJD 1.99
$1.29 ฿43.13
-31.01%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.11 ฿37.03
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.72 ฿24.08
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53 ฿17.59
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.31 ฿144
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.95 ฿600
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 ฿52.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 ฿95.0
-
🚌 Getting Around
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.86 ฿28.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.21 ฿40.29
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.57 ฿18.99
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.35 ฿78.6
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.44 ฿47.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.7K ฿692.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$62.3 ฿2,083
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$12.11 ฿405
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$19.94 ฿666
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.07 ฿1,239
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.50 ฿217
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$793 ฿26.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.7 ฿1,796
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.62 ฿823
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.9 ฿3,036
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.1 ฿2,378
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$455 ฿15.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$298 ฿9,954
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$908 ฿30.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$554 ฿18.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Navua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 ฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Navua: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$298
Groceries & Markets
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$235
Clothing & Footwear
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$79
Getting Around
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Navua
–
Chiang Mai
$50
Good to know
🇫🇯 Navua
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:52 7:52 AM
02:52 2:52 AM
5 h behind Navua
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,812
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Navua Chiang Mai 9,570 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Navua
  • 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
Navua vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Navua or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1298% more than Navua, 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 Navua and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $99.3 per month in Navua and $1,388 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 Navua compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $66.2 in Navua and $925 in Chiang Mai. That's a gap of about 1298%.
Are groceries more expensive in Navua or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 399% 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 $2,000/month in Navua or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Navua, where all-in costs run around $66.2, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Navua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Navua or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Navua costs $66.2 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Navua 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 Navua or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Navua. 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.

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