Cost of Living Comparison Between Palmerston North and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Palmerston North and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Palmerston North is 68% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 91.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Palmerston North is 78.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 100.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 NZ$27.81
$2.02 ฿65.3
734.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.1 NZ$119
$18.78 ฿608
284.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.27 NZ$20.23
$7.67 ฿248
59.97%
Cappuccino
$3.44 NZ$5.67
$1.98 ฿64.2
73.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$3.91
$0.82 ฿26.64
189.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 NZ$3.43
$0.33 ฿10.58
530.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.32 NZ$12.07
$2.12 ฿68.6
245.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 NZ$10.42
$3.73 ฿121
69.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 NZ$3.16
$1.64 ฿53.2
17.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 NZ$3.39
$1.57 ฿50.9
30.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$2.99
$1.19 ฿38.62
52.10%
Eggs
$5.41 NZ$8.92
$1.98 ฿64.1
173.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.35 NZ$13.77
$15.99 ฿517
-47.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 NZ$15.46
$3.12 ฿101
200.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.3 NZ$20.28
$11.16 ฿361
10.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 NZ$4.16
$2.76 ฿89.2
-8.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$2.99
$1.22 ฿39.5
48.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 NZ$4.22
$1.71 ฿55.4
49.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 NZ$5.63
$1.55 ฿50.2
120.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 NZ$3.57
$1.34 ฿43.21
61.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 NZ$3.59
$1.21 ฿39.23
80.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 NZ$3.53
$0.72 ฿23.2
197.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1 NZ$1.66
$0.53 ฿17.05
88.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.09 NZ$33.14
$4.72 ฿153
325.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.77 NZ$14.47
$18.39 ฿595
-52.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 NZ$4.06
$1.79 ฿57.9
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 NZ$8.66
$3.21 ฿104
63.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.64 NZ$7.65
$0.94 ฿30.44
393.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.49 NZ$50.3
$18.9 ฿612
61.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 NZ$3.89
$1.42 ฿46.08
66.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 NZ$2.97
$1.35 ฿43.53
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.23 NZ$28.42
$7.85 ฿254
119.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.73
$1.25 ฿40.4
32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K NZ$31K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-11.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K NZ$35.7K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-0.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.5 NZ$148
$70.6 ฿2,285
26.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38 NZ$62.7
$13.72 ฿444
176.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.26 NZ$79.6
$17.56 ฿568
174.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35 NZ$57.7
$41.64 ฿1,347
-15.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 NZ$21.37
$6.9 ฿223
87.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.9 NZ$14.68
$5.8 ฿188
53.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$999 NZ$1,648
$308 ฿9,963
224.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,262 NZ$10.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-57.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 NZ$92.7
$55.4 ฿1,793
1.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.3 NZ$63.2
$26.4 ฿854
45.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 NZ$153
$85.1 ฿2,755
8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 NZ$154
$71.8 ฿2,323
30.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$836 NZ$1,379
$434 ฿14K
92.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 NZ$1,146
$235 ฿7,610
195.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 NZ$2,581
$821 ฿26.6K
90.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 NZ$2,286
$498 ฿16.1K
178.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,102 NZ$3,466
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-3.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,444 NZ$4,032
$1,543 ฿49.9K
58.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palmerston North
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,487 NZ$4,101
$703 ฿22.8K
253.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
5
33.80%

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

Last update for Palmerston North: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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