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

😐 Solo nomad: Wellington is 95.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 168.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Wellington is 110.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 152.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.57 NZ$28.98
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
769.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9 NZ$137
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
341.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.53 NZ$15.72
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
24.25%
Cappuccino
$3.59 NZ$5.92
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
81.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 NZ$4.08
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
201.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 NZ$3.62
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
566.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 NZ$11.6
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
231.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.38 NZ$12.18
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
97.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 NZ$3.1
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
14.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 NZ$3.44
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
33.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 NZ$3.23
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
64.71%
Eggs
$6.89 NZ$11.37
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
247.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.24 NZ$13.6
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
-48.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.92 NZ$18.01
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
250.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.99 NZ$21.42
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
16.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 NZ$5.15
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
13.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 NZ$3.82
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
89.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.1 NZ$5.12
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
81.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 NZ$7.72
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
201.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 NZ$3.41
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
54.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 NZ$2.59
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
29.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 NZ$3.79
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
219.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 NZ$2.11
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
141.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$27.02 NZ$44.57
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
472.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.48 NZ$17.28
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-43.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68 NZ$6.08
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
105.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 NZ$5.35
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 NZ$4.59
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
195.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 NZ$175
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
462.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 NZ$4.41
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
88.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 NZ$2.93
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
31.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.2 NZ$97.6
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
653.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 NZ$2.73
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33K NZ$54.5K
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
56.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K NZ$41.3K
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 NZ$265
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
127.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.1 NZ$54.6
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
141.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 NZ$86.7
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
199.43%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.7 NZ$60.5
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
-11.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 NZ$33.25
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
192.17%
Cinema Ticket
$11.86 NZ$19.56
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
104.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$789 NZ$1,301
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
156.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K NZ$20.9K
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
-13.68%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.5 NZ$120
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
30.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 NZ$88.6
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
103.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 NZ$195
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
38.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 NZ$240
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
102.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 NZ$2,211
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
208.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,091 NZ$1,800
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
364.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,146 NZ$3,539
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
161.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,893 NZ$3,122
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
279.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,617 NZ$10.9K
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
203.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,828 NZ$7,962
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
212.90%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,228 NZ$5,324
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
358.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.94
5
38.80%

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

Last update for Wellington: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.