Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepal and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Nepal: $408 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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🙂 Solo nomad: Nepal is 45.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 55% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nepal is 42.7% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 50.8% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90 NPR 294
$2.13 ฿71.4
-10.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.16 NPR 2,500
$19.40 ฿649
-16.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 NPR 1,001
$5.47 ฿183
18.28%
Cappuccino
$1.40 NPR 217
$1.68 ฿56.4
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 NPR 77.5
$0.66 ฿22.10
-24.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 NPR 23.84
$0.34 ฿11.52
-55.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 NPR 345
$2.42 ฿81.0
-7.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 NPR 511
$3.73 ฿125
-11.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 NPR 106
$2.06 ฿68.9
-66.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 NPR 72.0
$1.46 ฿48.78
-67.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 NPR 122
$1.35 ฿45.09
-41.48%
Eggs
$1.54 NPR 239
$2.27 ฿76.0
-32.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.42 NPR 993
$16.31 ฿546
-60.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 NPR 448
$2.70 ฿90.3
7.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.49 NPR 850
$9.20 ฿308
-40.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 NPR 311
$2.39 ฿80.1
-15.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 NPR 163
$1.04 ฿34.66
0.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 NPR 175
$1.60 ฿53.7
-29.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 NPR 81.5
$1.44 ฿48.37
-63.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 NPR 54.8
$1.30 ฿43.59
-73.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 NPR 78.6
$1.11 ฿37.29
-54.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 NPR 66.9
$0.70 ฿23.55
-38.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 NPR 35.53
$0.51 ฿16.99
-54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59 NPR 400
$4.13 ฿138
-37.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.93 NPR 1,073
$17.78 ฿595
-61.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 NPR 357
$1.63 ฿54.7
41.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 NPR 460
$2.87 ฿96.0
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 NPR 29.26
$0.86 ฿28.76
-77.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.98 NPR 1,544
$53.2 ฿1,780
-81.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 NPR 247
$1.22 ฿40.81
31.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 NPR 164
$0.56 ฿18.81
89.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 NPR 508
$2.31 ฿77.5
41.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 NPR 186
$1.50 ฿50.2
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K NPR 4.5M
$20.9K ฿698.3K
40.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K NPR 5.3M
$26.7K ฿895.0K
27.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.96 NPR 4,946
$61.3 ฿2,051
-47.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 NPR 634
$12.50 ฿419
-67.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.85 NPR 1,215
$20.36 ฿682
-61.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.51 NPR 2,864
$37.94 ฿1,270
-51.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12 NPR 947
$3.77 ฿126
62.33%
Cinema Ticket
$2.63 NPR 407
$6.60 ฿221
-60.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$50.4 NPR 7,803
$774 ฿25.9K
-93.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,298 NPR 510.4K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-77.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 NPR 3,276
$54.8 ฿1,835
-61.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.59 NPR 4,270
$25.26 ฿846
9.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.48 NPR 6,883
$90.6 ฿3,032
-50.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.23 NPR 3,905
$73.3 ฿2,453
-65.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$134 NPR 20.7K
$459 ฿15.4K
-70.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$67.0 NPR 10.4K
$294 ฿9,835
-77.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 NPR 44.0K
$919 ฿30.8K
-69.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 NPR 23.3K
$552 ฿18.5K
-72.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,136 NPR 330.5K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
11.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,172 NPR 181.3K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
-18.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nepal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 NPR 31.8K
$592 ฿19.8K
-65.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.47
5.57
87.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nepal: October 3, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nepal $132 32.3%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 78.2% $104
Eating Out
Nepal $72 17.5%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 7.7% $5.5
Accommodation & Living
Nepal $67 16.4%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 338% $227
Clothing & Footwear
Nepal $53 13%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 106% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nepal $44 10.7%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 114% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Nepal $24 5.8%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 115% $27
Getting Around
Nepal $18 4.3%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 244% $43
Groceries & Markets
Nepal $296 32.2%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 78.6% $233
Eating Out
Nepal $216 23.5%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 12.8% $28
Accommodation & Living
Nepal $151 16.4%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 266% $401
Clothing & Footwear
Nepal $118 12.9%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 106% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nepal $48 5.2%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 122% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Nepal $54 5.8%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 97.6% $52
Getting Around
Nepal $36 3.9%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 245% $87
Good to know
🇳🇵 Nepal
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
29,164,578
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
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Between locations
- Nepal Chiang Mai 1,710 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- Nepal
- 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
Nepal vs other spots: cost of living compared
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