Cost of Living Comparison Between Nonthaburi and Karaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Nonthaburi and Karaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Nonthaburi versus $530 in Karaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,389 in Nonthaburi versus $973 in Karaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,911 in Nonthaburi versus $1,417 in Karaj.

Living in Nonthaburi is roughly 64% more expensive than Karaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nonthaburi 35% lower, Karaj 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 ฿97.6

$4.12 $4.12

-27.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.38 ฿698

$17.95 $17.95

19.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ฿196

$4.94 $4.94

21.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

Cappuccino

$2.10 ฿68.5

$1.32 $1.32

59.09%

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

$0.67 ฿21.89

$0.45 $0.45

48.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ฿9.59

$1.04 $1.04

-72.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 ฿63.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 ฿49.63

$0.58 $0.58

162.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿45.93

$0.53 $0.53

166.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ฿41.16

$1.84 $1.84

-31.52%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.2

$0.99 $0.99

126.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.67 ฿610

$3.48 $3.48

436.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.73 ฿89.1

$3.35 $3.35

-18.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿308

$10.81 $10.81

-12.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ฿116

$0.82 $0.82

331.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.3

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ฿61.8

$0.77 $0.77

145.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿51.0

$0.46 $0.46

239.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.2

$0.41 $0.41

304.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 ฿47.16

$0.46 $0.46

213.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.62

$0.59 $0.59

84.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.98

$0.19 $0.19

157.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 $0.45

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 ฿142

$2.54 $2.54

70.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 ฿479

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿31.34

$0.23 $0.23

317.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.70 ฿1,199

$13.13 $13.13

179.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ฿34.38

$0.31 $0.31

238.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 ฿38.31

$0.31 $0.31

277.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 ฿135

$2.60 $2.60

58.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.83

$0.77 $0.77

74.03%

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

$36.7K ฿1.2M

$79.9K $79.9K

-54.02%

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

$28.0K ฿915.8K

$54.5K $54.5K

-48.52%

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

$88.0 ฿2,875

$13.83 $13.83

536.51%

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

$12.99 ฿424

$2.22 $2.22

485.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.36 ฿567

$5.61 $5.61

209.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$22.62 $22.62

140.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.05 ฿393

$9.97 $9.97

20.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.34 ฿207

$1.52 $1.52

317.11%

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

$418 ฿13.6K

$130 $130

222.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ฿437.6K

$833 $833

1508.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.59 ฿999

$25.27 $25.27

21.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 ฿1,263

$34.25 $34.25

12.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 ฿3,463

$96.7 $96.7

9.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ฿2,834

$59.3 $59.3

46.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ฿23.6K

$370 $370

95.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 ฿6,154

$191 $191

-1.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 ฿27.7K

$866 $866

-2.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ฿14.4K

$611 $611

-27.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,245 $1,245

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$537 $537

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 $247

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

22.67

-74.24%

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

Last update for Nonthaburi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karaj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $723 in Nonthaburi and $370 in Karaj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Nonthaburi vs $18.00 in Karaj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $107 per month, with Karaj cheaper across the board.

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

Nonthaburi vs Karaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nonthaburi and Karaj differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $530 including rent). Karaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,299 in Nonthaburi and $794 in Karaj to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $723 in Nonthaburi versus $370 in Karaj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 132% higher in Nonthaburi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Karaj – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $21.00 in Nonthaburi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $530 in Karaj versus $866 in Nonthaburi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karaj but tight or insufficient in Nonthaburi. The gap between the two cities makes Karaj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Nonthaburi and Karaj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Nonthaburi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.