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Chiang Mai vs Nha Trang cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇻🇳 Nha TrangChiang Mai is 43% cheaper than Nha Trang
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,503 in Nha Trang — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $72.7
Per month
$994 vs $1,503
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ₫ 58,000
$1.67 vs $2.21
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₫ 92,000
$1.58 vs $3.5
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 19% cheaper
Cafés & drinksNha Trang 36% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 14% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 30% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Nha Trang is clearly cheaper: Transit (67%↓), Cocktail & wine (47%↓), Beer (47%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (55%↓), Studio rent (month) (32%↓), Hotel night (28%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Nha Trang | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ₫ 58,000$2.21 | Chiang Mai −24% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 26,000$0.99 | Chiang Mai −23% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Nha Trang −13% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₫ 34,000$1.29 | Nha Trang −47% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ₫ 88,000$3.35 | Nha Trang −47% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ₫ 7,900$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ₫ 92,000$3.5 | Chiang Mai −55% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₫ 7,900$0.3 | Nha Trang −67% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 180,000$6.84 | Nha Trang −6% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ₫ 1,100,000$41.8 | Chiang Mai −28% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ₫ 10,500,000$399 | Chiang Mai −32% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Nha Trang −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Nha Trang −16% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ₫ 110,000$4.18 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 300,000$11.4 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ₫ 760,000$28.9 | Chiang Mai −7% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Nha Trang −32% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nha Trang?
Chiang Mai is 43% cheaper than Nha Trang. Daily budget $53.8 vs $72.7; a month $994 vs $1,503.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Nha Trang?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Nha Trang about $1,503 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.