Cost of Living Comparison Between Nelson and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nelson and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Nelson is 102.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 133.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nelson is 119.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 129.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.81 NZ$35.37
$2.03 ฿64.6
925.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9 NZ$141
$18.59 ฿593
346.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 NZ$16.53
$7.48 ฿238
29.95%
Cappuccino
$3.21 NZ$5.45
$2.00 ฿63.7
60.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 NZ$4.35
$0.85 ฿27.01
201.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 NZ$4.67
$0.35 ฿11.21
685.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.08 NZ$12.03
$2.21 ฿70.5
220.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 NZ$10.11
$3.76 ฿120
58.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 NZ$4.14
$1.72 ฿54.8
41.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 NZ$3.79
$1.63 ฿52.1
36.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 NZ$3.96
$1.16 ฿36.93
100.86%
Eggs
$6.30 NZ$10.72
$1.98 ฿63.1
218.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 NZ$16.80
$15.93 ฿508
-37.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.81 NZ$13.27
$3.17 ฿101
146.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.11 NZ$27.38
$10.90 ฿348
47.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 NZ$6.02
$2.65 ฿84.3
33.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 NZ$4.45
$1.22 ฿38.98
114.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 NZ$5.27
$1.70 ฿54.1
82.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.66 NZ$11.32
$1.59 ฿50.7
318.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 NZ$6.29
$1.32 ฿42.21
180.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 NZ$4.18
$1.17 ฿37.25
110.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 NZ$4.47
$0.68 ฿21.61
286.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 NZ$2.17
$0.56 ฿17.76
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.46 NZ$51.8
$4.51 ฿144
575.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 NZ$17.34
$19.07 ฿608
-46.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 NZ$5.45
$1.77 ฿56.4
80.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 NZ$7.49
$3.18 ฿101
38.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.46 NZ$4.18
$0.96 ฿30.70
156.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.9 NZ$107
$18.90 ฿602
232.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.34 NZ$7.39
$1.36 ฿43.29
219.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 NZ$3.02
$1.35 ฿43.11
31.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.68 NZ$60.7
$8.03 ฿256
344.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 NZ$2.79
$1.24 ฿39.62
32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K NZ$31.7K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
-11.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K NZ$38.6K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
4.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 NZ$376
$71.2 ฿2,271
210.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.55 NZ$60.4
$14.09 ฿449
152.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.58 NZ$84.3
$17.47 ฿557
183.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.38 NZ$84.0
$42.07 ฿1,341
17.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.47 NZ$36.49
$6.88 ฿219
212.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 NZ$16.86
$5.94 ฿189
67.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$477 NZ$811
$307 ฿9,799
55.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K NZ$20.8K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-17.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 NZ$104
$55.7 ฿1,775
10.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.0 NZ$111
$26.79 ฿854
142.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 NZ$221
$83.2 ฿2,653
56.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 NZ$188
$70.1 ฿2,235
57.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 NZ$1,665
$427 ฿13.6K
129.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 NZ$1,238
$237 ฿7,559
207.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 NZ$2,409
$802 ฿25.6K
76.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 NZ$2,070
$503 ฿16.0K
141.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,898 NZ$6,626
$2,061 ฿65.7K
89.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,140 NZ$5,338
$1,533 ฿48.9K
104.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nelson
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,709 NZ$4,605
$654 ฿20.8K
314.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
5
36.40%

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

Last update for Nelson: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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