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

😐 Solo nomad: Timaru is 99.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 135% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Timaru is 84.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 131.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17 NZ$25.95
$2.03 ฿64.8
647.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 NZ$136
$18.59 ฿594
329.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 NZ$16.85
$7.48 ฿239
31.68%
Cappuccino
$3.39 NZ$5.80
$2.00 ฿63.8
69.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.73
$0.85 ฿27.08
156.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 NZ$3.19
$0.35 ฿11.24
434.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 NZ$10.08
$2.21 ฿70.7
166.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 NZ$10.01
$3.76 ฿120
55.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 NZ$2.75
$1.72 ฿54.9
-6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 NZ$3.35
$1.63 ฿52.2
20.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 NZ$2.01
$1.16 ฿37.04
1.72%
Eggs
$6.33 NZ$10.82
$1.98 ฿63.3
219.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.67 NZ$16.54
$15.93 ฿509
-39.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.76 NZ$18.40
$3.17 ฿101
239.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.95 NZ$28.99
$10.90 ฿349
55.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 NZ$4.53
$2.65 ฿84.6
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 NZ$4.40
$1.22 ฿39.09
110.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 NZ$5.08
$1.70 ฿54.3
74.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.90 NZ$10.09
$1.59 ฿50.8
271.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 NZ$4.43
$1.32 ฿42.33
96.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 NZ$4.08
$1.17 ฿37.36
104.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 NZ$4.86
$0.68 ฿21.67
317.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 NZ$1.95
$0.56 ฿17.81
103.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$28.48 NZ$48.71
$4.51 ฿144
531.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 NZ$12.43
$19.07 ฿610
-61.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 NZ$7.89
$1.77 ฿56.6
160.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 NZ$12.05
$3.18 ฿102
121.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 NZ$3.54
$0.96 ฿30.78
115.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.9 NZ$111
$18.90 ฿604
243.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 NZ$4.93
$1.36 ฿43.41
111.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NZ$1.87
$1.35 ฿43.23
-19.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.23 NZ$55.1
$8.03 ฿257
301.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.79
$1.24 ฿39.74
31.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K NZ$50.0K
$21.2K ฿676.6K
38.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K NZ$30.4K
$21.8K ฿695.5K
-18.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 NZ$330
$71.2 ฿2,277
171.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.71 NZ$40.54
$14.09 ฿450
68.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 NZ$99.6
$17.47 ฿559
233.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 NZ$63.1
$42.07 ฿1,345
-12.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 NZ$20.93
$6.88 ฿220
77.91%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04 NZ$22.30
$5.94 ฿190
119.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 NZ$858
$307 ฿9,827
63.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,129 NZ$12.2K
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-51.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2 NZ$147
$55.7 ฿1,780
54.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05 NZ$83.9
$26.79 ฿856
83.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 NZ$162
$83.2 ฿2,661
13.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$281 NZ$481
$70.1 ฿2,241
301.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 NZ$1,674
$427 ฿13.7K
129.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$783 NZ$1,338
$237 ฿7,580
230.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,543 NZ$2,638
$802 ฿25.6K
92.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,433 NZ$2,450
$503 ฿16.1K
184.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,134 NZ$8,779
$2,061 ฿65.9K
149.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,424 NZ$5,855
$1,533 ฿49.0K
123.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 ฿20.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
5
34.80%

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

Last update for Timaru: February 28, 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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