🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $385 in Baramulla versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in Baramulla versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $852 in Baramulla versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Baramulla costs roughly 56% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Baramulla71% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34₹222
$1.94฿63.8
20.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.36₹984
$18.64฿611
-44.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.66₹348
$7.82฿256
-53.20%
Cappuccino
$1.59₹151
$1.95฿64.1
-18.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₹38.49
$0.85฿27.88
-51.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.56
$0.35฿11.63
-57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70₹161
$2.13฿69.9
-20.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12₹296
$3.73฿122
-16.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70₹66.6
$1.71฿56.2
-59.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49₹46.28
$1.63฿53.4
-69.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67₹63.9
$1.14฿37.30
-41.23%
Eggs
$0.90₹85.8
$1.93฿63.4
-53.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.05₹479
$16.21฿532
-68.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98₹283
$3.12฿102
-4.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.90฿357
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.97₹187
$2.75฿90.3
-28.36%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72₹68.2
$1.21฿39.68
-40.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94₹89.0
$1.62฿53.2
-41.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.6
$1.59฿52.0
-66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36₹33.90
$1.40฿45.89
-74.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41₹39.21
$1.17฿38.32
-64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49₹46.18
$0.66฿21.69
-25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.52
$0.53฿17.29
-35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06₹385
$4.69฿154
-13.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72₹638
$18.66฿612
-63.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₹160
$1.80฿59.0
-6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91₹276
$3.23฿106
-9.91%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.01₹475
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.22
$0.90฿29.37
-68.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.61₹817
$19.21฿630
-55.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₹77.9
$1.41฿46.10
-41.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₹22.69
$1.29฿42.29
-81.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₹135
$7.84฿257
-81.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₹115
$1.27฿41.75
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K₹1.3M
$21.3K฿697.7K
-34.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K₹2.1M
$22.2K฿728.3K
-1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.60₹3,665
$69.1฿2,265
-44.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.53₹336
$14.08฿462
-74.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.59₹721
$18.00฿590
-57.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.18₹1,536
$41.06฿1,346
-60.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89₹654
$6.96฿228
-1.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97₹282
$5.92฿194
-49.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.8₹4,826
$299฿9,805
-83.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,566₹148.7K
$15.0K฿490.3K
-89.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.04₹2,282
$54.7฿1,794
-56.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.07₹2,380
$26.77฿878
-6.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.45₹4,030
$85.0฿2,787
-50.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.36₹2,977
$70.6฿2,315
-55.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125₹11.9K
$428฿14.0K
-70.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.7₹7,376
$237฿7,782
-67.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275₹26.1K
$801฿26.3K
-65.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182₹17.3K
$515฿16.9K
-64.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$989₹93.9K
$1,975฿64.7K
-49.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512₹48.6K
$1,475฿48.4K
-65.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baramulla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$338₹32.1K
$617฿20.2K
-45.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
5
80.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baramulla: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Baramulla and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 83% 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 Baramulla vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $246 per month, with Baramulla 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
Baramulla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baramulla or Chiang Mai?
Baramulla wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baramulla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Baramulla or Chiang Mai?
On paper, Chiang Mai earns 83% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baramulla vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Baramulla versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Baramulla and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $50.8 in Baramulla versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Baramulla or Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 136% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $800/month in Baramulla or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Baramulla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baramulla or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baramulla delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $385 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baramulla hard to pass up.
How safe is Baramulla compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Baramulla 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baramulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.