Cost of Living Comparison Between Rarotonga and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Rarotonga and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Rarotonga vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,016 per month in Rarotonga vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,668 per month in Rarotonga vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rarotonga costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Rarotonga sits 2% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 NZ$21.19

$1.94 ฿63.9

534.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 NZ$103

$18.64 ฿613

219.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.44 NZ$12.81

$7.82 ฿257

-4.86%

Cappuccino

$4.41 NZ$7.60

$1.95 ฿64.2

126.15%

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

$3.29 NZ$5.67

$0.85 ฿27.95

287.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 NZ$4.89

$0.35 ฿11.66

711.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.54 NZ$11.26

$2.13 ฿70.1

207.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 NZ$9.25

$3.73 ฿123

43.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 NZ$3.83

$1.71 ฿56.3

29.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 NZ$5.02

$1.63 ฿53.5

78.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 NZ$2.65

$1.14 ฿37.39

35.09%

Eggs

$6.66 NZ$11.47

$1.93 ฿63.5

245.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.99 NZ$15.49

$16.21 ฿533

-44.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 NZ$12.69

$3.12 ฿103

136.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 NZ$12.53

$10.90 ฿358

-33.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 NZ$5.24

$2.75 ฿90.6

10.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 NZ$5.15

$1.21 ฿39.78

147.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 NZ$6.27

$1.62 ฿53.3

124.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 NZ$5.16

$1.59 ฿52.2

88.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 NZ$3.16

$1.40 ฿46.00

31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 NZ$2.44

$1.17 ฿38.41

20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 NZ$3.03

$0.66 ฿21.74

166.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.57 NZ$6.14

$0.53 ฿17.33

573.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 NZ$25.67

$4.69 ฿154

217.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.91 NZ$20.52

$18.66 ฿613

-36.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.66 NZ$6.31

$1.80 ฿59.2

103.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 NZ$9.22

$3.23 ฿106

65.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 NZ$5.16

$0.90 ฿29.44

232.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿632

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$21.05 NZ$36.27

$1.41 ฿46.21

1392.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.47 NZ$61.1

$7.84 ฿258

352.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 NZ$3.21

$1.27 ฿41.85

46.46%

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

$12.0K NZ$20.7K

$21.3K ฿699.4K

-43.57%

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

$22.2K ฿730.1K

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

$91.0 NZ$157

$69.1 ฿2,270

31.81%

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

$29.94 NZ$51.6

$14.08 ฿463

112.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 NZ$178

$18.00 ฿592

474.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.41 NZ$43.78

$41.06 ฿1,350

-38.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.98 NZ$41.32

$6.96 ฿229

244.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 NZ$11.91

$5.92 ฿194

16.72%

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

$299 ฿9,829

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,456 NZ$2,508

$15.0K ฿491.5K

-90.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,798

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿880

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,320

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 NZ$829

$428 ฿14.1K

12.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 NZ$826

$237 ฿7,801

101.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$736 NZ$1,269

$801 ฿26.3K

-8.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 NZ$1,233

$515 ฿16.9K

38.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,156 NZ$7,159

$617 ฿20.3K

573.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

60.00%

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

Last update for Rarotonga: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Rarotonga versus $428 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 573% higher in Rarotonga, 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 $60.0 in Rarotonga versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Rarotonga costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Rarotonga and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,364 in Rarotonga and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Rarotonga, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Rarotonga at $1,364. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rarotonga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,364 in Rarotonga. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rarotonga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.