Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Nizwa: $44.08 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Nizwa

🇴🇲 Oman

$44.08

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $44 per month in Nizwa vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nizwa $44
Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $65 per month in Nizwa vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nizwa $65
Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $86 per month in Nizwa vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nizwa $86
Chiang Mai $1,903

Nizwa is about 95% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nizwa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nizwa 97% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿77.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿664

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿190

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.2

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.70 ฿23.65

51.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.31 ฿10.35

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿81.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿66.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿44.10

Eggs

$2.18 ฿73.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿563

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿93.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿308

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿55.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.61

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.44

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿146

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿53.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿29.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,800

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿48.49

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

$20.7K ฿700.5K

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

$26.8K ฿905.6K

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

$62.3 ฿2,106

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

$12.11 ฿409

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿674

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.77 OMR 14.92

$37.07 ฿1,252

4.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿128

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿220

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

$793 ฿26.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿500.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,816

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,070

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,404

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿20.0K

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 Nizwa: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Groceries & Markets

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Clothing & Footwear

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Eating Out

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Getting Around

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Nizwa

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Good to know

🇴🇲 Nizwa

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

23:35 11:35 PM

02:35 2:35 AM

3 h ahead of Nizwa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

700,000

127,240

💱 Currency

Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1 OMR = 2.6 USD

1 OMR = 2.32 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇴🇲 Omani Rial (ر.ع.)

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.431 OMR (1 OMR = 2.32 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 33.79 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.83 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

USD to OMR in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Nizwa Chiang Mai 4,320 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Nizwa
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

Nizwa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1999% more than Nizwa, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $66 per month in Nizwa and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $44 in Nizwa to $925 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.