🙂A single person spends $406 per month in Siddharthanagar vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $647 per month in Siddharthanagar vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $887 per month in Siddharthanagar vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Siddharthanagar is about 53% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Siddharthanagar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Siddharthanagar70% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.86NPR 286
$1.96฿65.9
-5.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.81NPR 1,661
$18.35฿617
-41.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.67NPR 1,024
$7.48฿252
-10.83%
Cappuccino
$1.77NPR 271
$2.02฿67.8
-12.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34NPR 52.6
$0.85฿28.52
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 26.96
$0.36฿11.97
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65NPR 407
$2.14฿71.9
23.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09NPR 474
$3.59฿121
-13.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.43NPR 66.3
$1.65฿55.5
-73.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.30NPR 46.27
$1.57฿52.7
-80.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.42NPR 63.9
$1.19฿40.05
-64.71%
Eggs
$1.66NPR 256
$1.94฿65.1
-14.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.49NPR 843
$16.19฿545
-66.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97NPR 456
$2.99฿101
-0.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.27NPR 349
$10.94฿368
-79.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NPR 334
$2.71฿91.2
-19.56%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63NPR 97.5
$1.17฿39.27
-46.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08NPR 166
$1.69฿56.8
-36.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41NPR 63.3
$1.60฿54.0
-74.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.23NPR 34.77
$1.38฿46.56
-83.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42NPR 64.9
$1.20฿40.47
-65.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 75.8
$0.67฿22.51
-26.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 38.48
$0.56฿18.74
-55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.42NPR 218
$4.64฿156
-69.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.05NPR 1,390
$17.62฿593
-48.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24NPR 344
$1.86฿62.6
20.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26NPR 500
$3.30฿111
-1.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18NPR 27.30
$0.88฿29.70
-79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23NPR 343
$1.36฿45.92
63.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11NPR 170
$1.34฿45.00
-17.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.67NPR 563
$8.21฿276
-55.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24NPR 190
$1.22฿41.20
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KNPR 4.9M
$21.4K฿718.5K
50.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2KNPR 6.3M
$22.5K฿758.1K
83.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.24NPR 5,106
$70.7฿2,378
-52.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.91NPR 754
$14.04฿472
-65.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.48NPR 1,456
$17.49฿589
-45.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50NPR 2,842
$42.15฿1,418
-56.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.23NPR 496
$5.92฿199
-45.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8NPR 13.9K
$309฿10.4K
-70.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,838NPR 589.6K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-74.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.13NPR 3,860
$55.8฿1,876
-54.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.15NPR 4,324
$26.11฿879
7.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.4NPR 8,811
$83.0฿2,793
-30.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.87NPR 6,124
$70.5฿2,371
-43.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.9K
$432฿14.5K
-76.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.9NPR 9,973
$239฿8,040
-72.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206NPR 31.7K
$822฿27.7K
-74.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 22.0K
$512฿17.2K
-72.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siddharthanagar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
5
141.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Siddharthanagar: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Siddharthanagar versus $432 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Siddharthanagar versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $243 – making Siddharthanagar 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
Siddharthanagar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Siddharthanagar or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Siddharthanagar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Siddharthanagar and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $610 per month in Siddharthanagar and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Siddharthanagar or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Siddharthanagar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Siddharthanagar and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Siddharthanagar and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Siddharthanagar or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 108% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Siddharthanagar or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $406 in Siddharthanagar and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Siddharthanagar or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siddharthanagar costs $406 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Siddharthanagar compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Siddharthanagar or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Siddharthanagar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Siddharthanagar vs other spots: cost of living compared