ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $341 in Chhindwara versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $589 in Chhindwara versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $836 in Chhindwara versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
ðLiving in Chhindwara costs roughly 60% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Chhindwara75% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29âđ218
$1.96āļŋ64.0
16.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.45âđ992
$18.81āļŋ615
-44.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.67âđ348
$7.92āļŋ259
-53.66%
Cappuccino
$1.57âđ149
$1.91āļŋ62.6
-17.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41âđ38.78
$0.84āļŋ27.41
-51.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16âđ14.90
$0.35āļŋ11.51
-54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70âđ162
$2.21āļŋ72.1
-23.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08âđ293
$3.80āļŋ124
-18.95%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63âđ59.5
$1.64āļŋ53.5
-61.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42âđ40.14
$1.62āļŋ53.1
-74.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.57âđ54.2
$1.18āļŋ38.62
-51.69%
Eggs
$0.96âđ91.3
$2.01āļŋ65.8
-52.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.96âđ471
$15.89āļŋ520
-68.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98âđ378
$3.01āļŋ98.5
32.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.77āļŋ352
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.08âđ197
$2.61āļŋ85.5
-20.31%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49âđ46.40
$1.22āļŋ39.88
-59.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90âđ85.7
$1.70āļŋ55.7
-47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60âđ56.9
$1.58āļŋ51.5
-62.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42âđ40.14
$1.32āļŋ43.14
-68.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50âđ47.92
$1.17āļŋ38.23
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46âđ43.66
$0.67āļŋ21.98
-31.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36âđ33.97
$0.56āļŋ18.32
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85âđ366
$4.53āļŋ148
-15.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72âđ733
$18.20āļŋ595
-57.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71âđ162
$1.83āļŋ60.0
-6.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79âđ265
$3.23āļŋ106
-13.62%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.12âđ486
-
-
ð Getting Around
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27âđ25.82
$0.89āļŋ29.00
-69.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.96âđ851
$19.38āļŋ634
-53.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83âđ78.4
$1.35āļŋ44.20
-38.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22âđ20.87
$1.35āļŋ44.05
-83.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.47âđ140
$8.25āļŋ270
-82.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22âđ116
$1.27āļŋ41.64
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8Kâđ1.3M
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
-34.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8Kâđ2.1M
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
-3.04%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.25âđ3,726
$70.2āļŋ2,294
-44.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.96âđ281
$13.77āļŋ450
-78.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.36âđ699
$17.60āļŋ575
-58.18%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.07âđ861
$41.57āļŋ1,360
-78.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.06âđ670
$6.60āļŋ216
6.97%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98âđ283
$5.78āļŋ189
-48.44%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.09âđ3,331
$306āļŋ10.0K
-88.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,522âđ144.5K
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
-89.73%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.57âđ1,573
$54.4āļŋ1,778
-69.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.81âđ2,355
$26.14āļŋ855
-5.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.64âđ4,048
$84.5āļŋ2,764
-49.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.07âđ3,045
$69.4āļŋ2,270
-53.81%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$57.5âđ5,457
$424āļŋ13.9K
-86.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$34.38âđ3,264
$238āļŋ7,788
-85.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276âđ26.2K
$825āļŋ27.0K
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180âđ17.0K
$515āļŋ16.8K
-65.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,041âđ98.9K
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
-49.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$488âđ46.4K
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
-67.94%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chhindwara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$211âđ20.0K
$635āļŋ20.8K
-66.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.67
5
73.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chhindwara: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.5 in Chhindwara and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Chiang Mai pays 201% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $10.00 in Chhindwara vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $243 per month, with Chhindwara 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
Chhindwara vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chhindwara and Chiang Mai?
Chhindwara and Chiang Mai differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($341 vs $852 including rent). Chhindwara is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Chiang Mai earns 201% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chhindwara and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $57.5 in Chhindwara versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chhindwara and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $35.09 in Chhindwara versus $306 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $1,200 go in Chhindwara vs Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Chhindwara 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 Chhindwara and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chhindwara or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chhindwara 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.
Where should expats move: Chhindwara or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chhindwara gentler on the wallet â expenses run 150% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chhindwara vs other spots: cost of living compared