Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathinda and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Bathinda: $308 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bathinda, India
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bathinda
🇮🇳 India
$308
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bathinda and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bathinda and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $308 in Bathinda versus $935 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bathinda $308
  • Chiang Mai $935

Estimated couple costs with rent: $483 in Bathinda versus $1,467 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bathinda $483
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $657 in Bathinda versus $1,999 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bathinda $657
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Living in Bathinda costs roughly 67% less than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bathinda 77% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25 ₹308
$2.13 ฿72.0
52.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.46 ₹1,275
$18.62 ฿628
-27.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.82 ₹267
$5.60 ฿189
-49.64%
Cappuccino
$1.13 ₹107
$1.66 ฿56.1
-31.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.58
$0.65 ฿21.83
-52.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11 ₹10.03
$0.30 ฿10.29
-63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 ₹203
$2.32 ฿78.4
-7.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₹187
$3.67 ฿124
-46.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.65 ₹61.8
$2.02 ฿68.0
-67.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₹47.80
$1.41 ฿47.51
-64.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ₹85.6
$1.39 ฿46.96
-35.25%
Eggs
$0.98 ₹92.7
$2.37 ฿79.9
-58.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 ₹467
$16.52 ฿557
-70.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.57 ₹243
$2.67 ฿90.1
-3.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.02 ฿304
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.09 ₹103
$2.40 ฿80.9
-54.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 ₹51.4
$1.04 ฿35.13
-48.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 ₹72.8
$1.66 ฿56.0
-53.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.20 ₹18.91
$1.56 ฿52.6
-87.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.17 ₹16.13
$1.24 ฿41.76
-86.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.20 ₹18.91
$1.09 ฿36.66
-81.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ₹63.4
$0.76 ฿25.70
-11.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₹31.75
$0.51 ฿17.35
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 ₹334
$4.12 ฿139
-14.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.54 ₹1,094
$17.93 ฿605
-35.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₹159
$1.62 ฿54.8
3.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₹253
$2.82 ฿95.2
-5.32%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.85 ₹649
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ₹29.22
$0.93 ฿31.53
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.67 ₹916
$52.9 ฿1,785
-81.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 ₹86.2
$1.18 ฿39.70
-22.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.61
$0.17 ฿5.79
58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 ₹158
$1.81 ฿61.1
-8.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ₹99.4
$1.47 ฿49.69
-28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K ₹1.1M
$21.0K ฿708.9K
-46.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K ₹2.4M
$26.5K ฿894.6K
-4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.41 ₹3,639
$62.6 ฿2,111
-38.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.10 ₹294
$11.60 ฿392
-73.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.84 ₹648
$20.30 ฿685
-66.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.75 ₹1,018
$37.88 ฿1,278
-71.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.70 ฿125
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.56 ₹243
$6.51 ฿220
-60.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$26.11 ₹2,474
$727 ฿24.5K
-96.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,035 ₹98.1K
$16.6K ฿559.2K
-93.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.56 ₹1,190
$53.5 ฿1,807
-76.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.18 ₹2,386
$24.80 ฿837
1.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.7 ₹5,461
$90.4 ฿3,050
-36.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.62 ₹4,133
$72.0 ฿2,428
-39.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$481 ฿16.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$310 ฿10.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,058 ฿35.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$659 ฿22.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,418 ฿81.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,609 ฿54.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bathinda
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$377 ₹35.7K
$595 ฿20.1K
-36.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%

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

Last update for Bathinda: October 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bathinda
$104
Chiang Mai
$237 128% $133
Eating Out
Bathinda
$64
Chiang Mai
$77 19% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Bathinda
$63
Chiang Mai
$108 73.2% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathinda
$48
Chiang Mai
$94 95.4% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Bathinda
$16
Chiang Mai
$51 221% $35
Getting Around
Bathinda
$13
Chiang Mai
$59 346% $46
Accommodation & Living
Bathinda
- *
Chiang Mai
$310

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 58% 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: $13 in Bathinda vs $19 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $237 per month, with Bathinda cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Bathinda
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
20:45 8:45 PM
22:15 10:15 PM
1 h 30 min ahead of Bathinda
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
285,813
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 94.74 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bathinda Chiang Mai 2,740 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bathinda
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bathinda vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bathinda and in Chiang Mai?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $308 in Bathinda and $935 in Chiang Mai, so Bathinda is about 67% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Bathinda. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do commuting costs compare in Bathinda and in Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Bathinda runs roughly 82% less than in Chiang Mai. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bathinda and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $26 in Bathinda versus $727 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Bathinda compared to Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bathinda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Bathinda and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Bathinda and Chiang Mai?
It comes down to priorities – Bathinda wins on affordability, Chiang Mai on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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