Cost of Living Comparison Between Andaman Islands and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Andaman Islands and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Andaman Islands versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $633 in Andaman Islands versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $868 in Andaman Islands versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Andaman Islands costs roughly 54% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Andaman Islands 70% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 ₹229

$1.96 ฿66.0

21.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.44 ₹1,005

$18.35 ฿618

-43.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 ₹349

$7.48 ฿252

-51.47%

Cappuccino

$1.54 ₹148

$2.02 ฿68.0

-23.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₹38.76

$0.85 ฿28.57

-52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₹18.39

$0.36 ฿11.99

-47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 ₹170

$2.14 ฿72.0

-17.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₹293

$3.59 ฿121

-15.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ₹103

$1.65 ฿55.6

-35.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₹47.92

$1.57 ฿52.8

-68.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₹80.9

$1.19 ฿40.12

-29.41%

Eggs

$0.94 ₹90.2

$1.94 ฿65.2

-51.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 ₹469

$16.19 ฿546

-69.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 ₹281

$2.99 ฿101

-2.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿369

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ₹211

$2.71 ฿91.4

-19.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ₹65.7

$1.17 ฿39.34

-41.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 ₹96.0

$1.69 ฿56.9

-40.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₹49.07

$1.60 ฿54.1

-68.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 ₹37.32

$1.38 ฿46.65

-71.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₹39.82

$1.20 ฿40.54

-65.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 ₹47.42

$0.67 ฿22.55

-26.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₹26.09

$0.56 ฿18.77

-51.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ₹381

$4.64 ฿156

-14.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.19 ₹692

$17.62 ฿594

-59.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₹168

$1.86 ฿62.7

-6.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₹281

$3.30 ฿111

-11.52%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.99 ₹481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₹29.02

$0.88 ฿29.75

-65.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.71 ₹838

$19.34 ฿652

-54.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₹80.7

$1.36 ฿46.01

-38.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ₹25.07

$1.34 ฿45.08

-80.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ₹138

$8.21 ฿277

-82.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₹110

$1.22 ฿41.28

-6.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.2K ₹1.4M

$21.4K ฿719.8K

-33.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₹2.1M

$22.5K ฿759.5K

-2.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.46 ₹3,797

$70.7 ฿2,382

-44.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.38 ₹326

$14.04 ฿473

-75.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.61 ₹732

$17.49 ฿590

-56.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.94 ₹1,534

$42.15 ฿1,421

-62.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.94 ₹668

$6.88 ฿232

0.87%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 ₹277

$5.92 ฿200

-51.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$51.0 ₹4,908

$309 ฿10.4K

-83.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,510 ₹145.3K

$14.9K ฿501.5K

-89.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.67 ₹2,374

$55.8 ฿1,880

-55.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.33 ₹2,438

$26.11 ฿880

-2.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.49 ₹4,185

$83.0 ฿2,798

-47.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.93 ₹3,073

$70.5 ฿2,375

-54.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$125 ₹12.0K

$432 ฿14.6K

-71.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.7 ₹7,284

$239 ฿8,054

-68.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 ₹26.5K

$822 ฿27.7K

-66.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₹17.3K

$512 ฿17.3K

-64.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$995 ₹95.8K

$1,915 ฿64.5K

-48.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 ₹48.7K

$1,467 ฿49.5K

-65.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$289 ₹27.8K

$579 ฿19.5K

-50.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

73.40%

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

Last update for Andaman Islands: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Andaman Islands and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 101% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $10.00 in Andaman Islands vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $243 per month, with Andaman Islands cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Andaman Islands vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Andaman Islands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 101% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Andaman Islands versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Andaman Islands runs roughly 122% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $51.0 in Andaman Islands versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Andaman Islands gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Andaman Islands is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Andaman Islands and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Andaman Islands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.