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

😐 Solo nomad: Timaru is 88.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 134.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Timaru is 108.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 129.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.94 NZ$24.64
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
639.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 NZ$131
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
323.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 NZ$16.04
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
26.73%
Cappuccino
$3.51 NZ$5.79
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
77.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 NZ$3.59
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
164.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 NZ$3.11
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
472.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 NZ$9.77
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
179.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21 NZ$10.24
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
66.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.69
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
-0.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 NZ$3.28
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
26.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 NZ$1.97
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
0.84%
Eggs
$6.43 NZ$10.6
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
224.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 NZ$16.26
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
-38.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 NZ$17.64
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
242.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.6 NZ$27.39
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
48.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 NZ$4.37
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
-3.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 NZ$4.16
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
106.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 NZ$5.01
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
77.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.86 NZ$9.66
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
278.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 NZ$4.4
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
99.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 NZ$3.93
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
96.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.92 NZ$4.82
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
305.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 NZ$1.91
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
118.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29 NZ$47.83
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
514.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 NZ$12.01
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-60.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.84 NZ$7.98
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
170.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 NZ$11.2
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
111.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 NZ$3.53
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
127.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 NZ$105
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
235.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 NZ$4.78
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
104.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NZ$1.8
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
-19.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.85 NZ$52.5
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
305.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 NZ$2.63
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
27.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K NZ$49.6K
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
42.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K NZ$30.1K
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
-16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 NZ$316
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
171.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.72 NZ$39.12
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
72.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5 NZ$99.7
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
244.25%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 NZ$60.9
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
-11.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.27 NZ$20.23
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
77.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 NZ$22.03
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
130.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 NZ$800
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
57.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,159 NZ$11.8K
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
-51.31%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 NZ$146
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
59.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.39 NZ$81.5
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
87.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 NZ$159
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
12.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$276 NZ$455
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
284.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$988 NZ$1,630
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
127.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 NZ$1,303
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
235.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 NZ$2,635
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
94.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 NZ$2,360
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
187.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,243 NZ$6,998
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
94.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,354 NZ$5,532
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
117.39%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Timaru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
-
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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