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

😐 Solo nomad: Taupo is 52.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 125.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taupo is 124% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 120.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.13 NZ$25.72
$2.03 ฿64.6
645.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0 NZ$133
$18.59 ฿593
319.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 NZ$16.68
$7.48 ฿238
31.15%
Cappuccino
$3.43 NZ$5.84
$2.00 ฿63.7
71.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 NZ$3.91
$0.85 ฿27.01
170.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.84
$0.35 ฿11.21
545.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.04 NZ$11.97
$2.21 ฿70.5
218.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.27 NZ$12.37
$3.76 ฿120
93.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 NZ$3.11
$1.72 ฿54.8
6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 NZ$3.48
$1.63 ฿52.1
25.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 NZ$3.42
$1.16 ฿36.93
73.28%
Eggs
$6.88 NZ$11.70
$1.98 ฿63.1
247.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 NZ$15.17
$15.93 ฿508
-43.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 NZ$16.25
$3.17 ฿101
201.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.19 NZ$22.43
$10.90 ฿348
21.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 NZ$4.83
$2.65 ฿84.3
7.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.75
$1.22 ฿38.98
81.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 NZ$5.54
$1.70 ฿54.1
91.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 NZ$6.85
$1.59 ฿50.7
153.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 NZ$3.42
$1.32 ฿42.21
52.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 NZ$2.86
$1.17 ฿37.25
43.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 NZ$3.32
$0.68 ฿21.61
186.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 NZ$2.12
$0.56 ฿17.76
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.53 NZ$43.39
$4.51 ฿144
466.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 NZ$18.24
$19.07 ฿608
-43.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 NZ$5.02
$1.77 ฿56.4
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 NZ$6.78
$3.18 ฿101
25.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 NZ$3.52
$0.96 ฿30.70
115.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.0 NZ$109
$18.90 ฿602
238.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 NZ$3.49
$1.36 ฿43.29
51.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 NZ$3.24
$1.35 ฿43.11
41.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.92 NZ$61.1
$8.03 ฿256
347.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 NZ$2.87
$1.24 ฿39.62
36.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K NZ$47.3K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
31.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K NZ$37.5K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 NZ$243
$71.2 ฿2,271
100.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.04 NZ$52.8
$14.09 ฿449
120.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.07 NZ$81.7
$17.47 ฿557
175.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.32 NZ$61.8
$42.07 ฿1,341
-13.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.19 NZ$20.72
$6.88 ฿219
77.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.01 NZ$25.51
$5.94 ฿189
152.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$920 NZ$1,563
$307 ฿9,799
199.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K NZ$23.0K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
-8.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0 NZ$119
$55.7 ฿1,775
25.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 NZ$86.4
$26.79 ฿854
89.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 NZ$169
$83.2 ฿2,653
19.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 NZ$212
$70.1 ฿2,235
78.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$958 NZ$1,628
$427 ฿13.6K
124.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 NZ$1,337
$237 ฿7,559
231.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,547 NZ$2,630
$802 ฿25.6K
92.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 NZ$2,420
$503 ฿16.0K
182.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,229 NZ$8,889
$2,061 ฿65.7K
153.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,477 NZ$5,911
$1,533 ฿48.9K
126.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taupo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 ฿20.8K
-
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 Taupo: 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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