Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between New Zealand and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,026 in New Zealand, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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New Zealand Living Index99Cost of Living Index in New ZealandLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: New Zealand is 67.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 123.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New Zealand is 84.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 113.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.03 NZ$25.00
$2.13 ฿71.4
558.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1 NZ$120
$19.40 ฿649
245.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.11 NZ$16.23
$5.47 ฿183
66.54%
Cappuccino
$3.26 NZ$5.82
$1.68 ฿56.4
94.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.88
$0.66 ฿22.10
230.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 NZ$3.34
$0.34 ฿11.52
450.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 NZ$11.93
$2.42 ฿81.0
176.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.77 NZ$12.06
$3.73 ฿125
81.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 NZ$3.09
$2.06 ฿68.9
-16.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 NZ$3.31
$1.46 ฿48.78
27.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 NZ$3.16
$1.35 ฿45.09
31.85%
Eggs
$5.96 NZ$10.63
$2.27 ฿76.0
162.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 NZ$14.38
$16.31 ฿546
-50.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 NZ$16.74
$2.70 ฿90.3
247.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 NZ$24.88
$9.20 ฿308
51.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 NZ$4.87
$2.39 ฿80.1
14.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 NZ$3.73
$1.04 ฿34.66
100.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 NZ$5.24
$1.60 ฿53.7
83.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.98 NZ$8.87
$1.44 ฿48.37
245.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 NZ$3.60
$1.30 ฿43.59
55.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 NZ$2.64
$1.11 ฿37.29
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 NZ$3.64
$0.70 ฿23.55
192.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 NZ$1.88
$0.51 ฿16.99
105.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.61 NZ$42.06
$4.13 ฿138
471.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$15.92
$17.78 ฿595
-49.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 NZ$5.37
$1.63 ฿54.7
84.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 NZ$5.62
$2.87 ฿96.0
9.76%
🚌 Getting Around
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.85 NZ$3.30
$0.86 ฿28.76
115.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 NZ$179
$53.2 ฿1,780
88.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 NZ$4.02
$1.22 ฿40.81
85.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 NZ$3.38
$0.56 ฿18.81
239.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.21 NZ$57.4
$2.31 ฿77.5
1294.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 NZ$3.00
$1.50 ฿50.2
12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K NZ$44.3K
$20.9K ฿698.3K
19.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K NZ$42.2K
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-11.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 NZ$277
$61.3 ฿2,051
153.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.36 NZ$55.9
$12.50 ฿419
150.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.95 NZ$85.5
$20.36 ฿682
135.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.82 NZ$62.1
$37.94 ฿1,270
-8.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.77 NZ$26.33
$3.77 ฿126
291.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 NZ$20.27
$6.60 ฿221
72.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$879 NZ$1,566
$774 ฿25.9K
13.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K NZ$29.3K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
13.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7 NZ$122
$54.8 ฿1,835
25.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.27 NZ$62.8
$25.26 ฿846
39.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 NZ$163
$90.6 ฿3,032
1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 NZ$208
$73.3 ฿2,453
59.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 NZ$1,918
$459 ฿15.4K
134.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 NZ$1,641
$294 ฿9,835
213.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 NZ$3,072
$919 ฿30.8K
87.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,477 NZ$2,631
$552 ฿18.5K
167.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,621 NZ$10.0K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
193.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,602 NZ$6,418
$1,445 ฿48.4K
149.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Zealand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,752 NZ$4,903
$592 ฿19.8K
364.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.27
5.57
12.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New Zealand: October 5, 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.
Accommodation & Living
New Zealand $921 45.4%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 68.1% $627
Groceries & Markets
New Zealand $312 15.4%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 24.4% $76
Eating Out
New Zealand $242 11.9%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 68.1% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Zealand $235 11.6%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 59.9% $141
Clothing & Footwear
New Zealand $141 6.9%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 21.9% $31
Getting Around
New Zealand $120 5.9%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 49.3% $59
Sport & Entertainment
New Zealand $58 2.8%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 11.2% $6.4
Accommodation & Living
New Zealand $1.5K 37.2%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 62.6% $925
Groceries & Markets
New Zealand $727 18.3%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 27.2% $198
Eating Out
New Zealand $817 20.6%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 70.2% $573
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Zealand $266 6.7%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 59.9% $159
Clothing & Footwear
New Zealand $312 7.9%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 21.9% $68
Getting Around
New Zealand $243 6.1%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 49.4% $120
Sport & Entertainment
New Zealand $130 3.3%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 18.4% $24
Good to know
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
5,118,700
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- New Zealand Chiang Mai 10,250 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
- New Zealand
- 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
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