Cost of Living Comparison Between Nha Trang and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Nha Trang and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Nha Trang vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,121 per month in Nha Trang vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,571 per month in Nha Trang vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nha Trang is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nha Trang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nha Trang 51% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 ₫67.6K

$2.08 ฿69.4

24.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.12 ₫602.9K

$19.64 ฿654

17.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₫120.8K

$5.65 ฿188

-18.05%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.6K

$1.81 ฿60.1

-9.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₫10.2K

$0.71 ฿23.75

-45.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 ₫5,469

$0.32 ฿10.52

-34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 ₫16.2K

$2.24 ฿74.5

-72.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₫31.2K

$3.63 ฿121

-66.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₫38.3K

$1.96 ฿65.2

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₫11.5K

$1.50 ฿50.0

-70.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.34 ฿44.49

-23.13%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.3K

$2.26 ฿75.4

-36.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫309.8K

$16.26 ฿541

-26.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 ₫80.2K

$2.95 ฿98.4

4.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.34 ₫295.6K

$9.94 ฿331

14.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₫50.3K

$2.57 ฿85.7

-24.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 ₫21.5K

$1.06 ฿35.18

-21.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.6K

$1.61 ฿53.7

-34.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₫31.7K

$1.52 ฿50.6

-19.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ₫21.5K

$1.27 ฿42.30

-34.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₫17.3K

$1.07 ฿35.51

-38.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₫20.6K

$0.72 ฿23.98

9.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₫10.6K

$0.51 ฿16.94

-19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 ₫38.8K

$4.19 ฿140

-64.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 ₫305.6K

$17.87 ฿595

-34.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₫15.1K

$1.69 ฿56.4

-65.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₫48.2K

$2.84 ฿94.5

-34.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₫7,701

$0.93 ฿30.82

-67.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₫15.7K

$1.23 ฿41.11

-51.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₫14.8K

$0.58 ฿19.20

-1.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₫22.4K

$1.41 ฿47.03

-39.01%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.7K ₫800.9M

$21.4K ฿714.1K

43.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K ₫725.7M

$27.3K ฿910.2K

1.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.4 ₫2.0M

$63.7 ฿2,120

19.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.31 ₫164.5K

$12.85 ฿428

-50.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.45 ₫246.4K

$20.22 ฿673

-53.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 ₫563.3K

$38.74 ฿1,290

-44.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.40 ₫453.7K

$3.97 ฿132

338.29%

Cinema Ticket

$1.87 ₫48.7K

$6.74 ฿224

-72.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$208 ₫5.4M

$778 ฿25.9K

-73.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,801 ₫99.1M

$14.6K ฿486.5K

-73.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 ₫1.1M

$54.3 ฿1,808

-22.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.30 ₫1.3M

$94.3 ฿3,141

-47.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₫10.4M

$490 ฿16.3K

-18.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 ₫7.1M

$289 ฿9,634

-5.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₫19.6M

$894 ฿29.8K

-15.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₫16.3M

$517 ฿17.2K

21.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,832 ₫73.8M

$1,955 ฿65.1K

44.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,522 ₫39.7M

$1,477 ฿49.2K

3.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$295 ₫7.7M

$602 ฿20.0K

-51.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Nha Trang: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Nha Trang versus $490 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 104% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Nha Trang versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Nha Trang vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Nha Trang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Nha Trang vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Nha Trang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Nha Trang and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nha Trang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Nha Trang and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nha Trang, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Nha Trang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nha Trang costs $671 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nha Trang. 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.