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

😐 Solo nomad: Rotorua is 50.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 70.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Rotorua is 36.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 67.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.07 NZ$20.65
$2.03 ฿64.8
494.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 NZ$103
$18.59 ฿594
224.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 NZ$16.52
$7.48 ฿239
29.14%
Cappuccino
$2.79 NZ$4.78
$2.00 ฿63.8
39.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 NZ$3.96
$0.85 ฿27.08
171.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 NZ$3.83
$0.35 ฿11.24
540.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 NZ$9.35
$2.21 ฿70.7
147.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 NZ$9.08
$3.76 ฿120
41.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 NZ$2.98
$1.72 ฿54.9
1.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 NZ$3.63
$1.63 ฿52.2
30.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 NZ$2.19
$1.16 ฿37.04
10.34%
Eggs
$5.45 NZ$9.31
$1.98 ฿63.3
175.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 NZ$13.80
$15.93 ฿509
-49.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.50 NZ$14.54
$3.17 ฿101
168.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.75 NZ$18.39
$10.90 ฿349
-1.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 NZ$3.06
$2.65 ฿84.6
-32.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 NZ$3.86
$1.22 ฿39.09
85.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 NZ$5.76
$1.70 ฿54.3
98.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 NZ$2.11
$1.59 ฿50.8
-22.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 NZ$3.02
$1.32 ฿42.33
34.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 NZ$2.92
$1.17 ฿37.36
46.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 NZ$3.38
$0.68 ฿21.67
191.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 NZ$2.09
$0.56 ฿17.81
117.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$22.92 NZ$39.20
$4.51 ฿144
408.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.79 NZ$15.04
$19.07 ฿610
-53.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 NZ$2.41
$1.77 ฿56.6
-20.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 NZ$4.88
$3.18 ฿102
-10.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 NZ$2.83
$0.96 ฿30.78
71.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 NZ$109
$18.90 ฿604
235.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 NZ$3.06
$1.36 ฿43.41
31.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 NZ$2.82
$1.35 ฿43.23
22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.60 NZ$59.2
$8.03 ฿257
330.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 NZ$2.86
$1.24 ฿39.74
34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K NZ$48.6K
$21.2K ฿676.6K
34.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K NZ$37.9K
$21.8K ฿695.5K
1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 NZ$247
$71.2 ฿2,277
102.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 NZ$52.4
$14.09 ฿450
117.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.91 NZ$78.5
$17.47 ฿559
162.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.40 NZ$60.5
$42.07 ฿1,345
-15.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 NZ$17.40
$6.88 ฿220
47.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 NZ$17.31
$5.94 ฿190
70.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$922 NZ$1,577
$307 ฿9,827
200.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K NZ$23.5K
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-7.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2 NZ$122
$55.7 ฿1,780
27.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.70 NZ$62.8
$26.79 ฿856
36.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.04 NZ$73.6
$83.2 ฿2,661
-48.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.6 NZ$93.4
$70.1 ฿2,241
-22.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 NZ$1,246
$427 ฿13.7K
70.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$537 NZ$919
$237 ฿7,580
126.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 NZ$2,472
$802 ฿25.6K
80.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 NZ$1,526
$503 ฿16.1K
77.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,307 NZ$7,364
$2,061 ฿65.9K
108.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,519 NZ$6,018
$1,533 ฿49.0K
129.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rotorua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,912 NZ$6,689
$654 ฿20.9K
498.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
5
27.40%

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

Last update for Rotorua: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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