Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abohar Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abohar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Chiang Mai versus $397 in Abohar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Chiang Mai versus $632 in Abohar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,912 in Chiang Mai versus $867 in Abohar.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 137% more expensive than in Abohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 30% lower, Abohar 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.6
$1.01 ₹97.1
105.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.91 ฿665
$13.45 ₹1,288
48.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 ฿186
$4.26 ₹408
30.99%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ฿58.1
$2.60 ₹249
-33.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿24.05
$0.43 ₹41.54
67.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.69
$0.25 ₹24.09
28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 ฿75.2
$2.03 ₹194
10.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿127
$3.08 ₹295
23.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.5
$0.72 ₹68.5
180.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.5
$0.53 ₹51.2
196.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.66
$0.83 ₹79.7
68.67%
Eggs
$2.15 ฿72.0
$0.76 ₹73.1
182.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.63 ฿523
$3.71 ₹355
321.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.85 ₹273
3.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.49 ฿317
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ฿87.1
$1.83 ₹175
42.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ฿36.15
$0.49 ₹46.64
120.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ฿53.2
$1.05 ₹100
51.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.56
$0.64 ₹60.9
126.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.67
$0.30 ₹28.24
326.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.14
$0.38 ₹36.03
192.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 ฿24.27
$0.70 ₹67.4
4.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.70
$0.25 ₹23.82
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿143
$5.06 ₹484
-15.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.67 ฿591
$11.67 ₹1,117
51.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.65 ₹158
1.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿93.6
$2.68 ₹257
4.48%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.53 ₹625
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿28.92
$0.27 ₹25.87
222.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.2 ฿1,812
$7.25 ₹694
647.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.54
$1.02 ₹97.2
18.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 ฿18.01
$0.24 ₹23.08
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.8
$1.59 ₹152
50.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ฿48.93
$1.05 ₹100
39.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.5K
$12.6K ₹1.2M
67.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.4K
$20.6K ₹2.0M
29.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.1 ฿2,075
$44.54 ₹4,264
39.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.93 ฿432
$2.24 ₹214
477.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61 ฿689
$5.24 ₹502
293.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.21 ฿1,311
$14.28 ₹1,367
174.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$6.47 ₹619
-41.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 ฿218
$2.15 ₹206
203.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 ฿26.8K
$58.1 ₹5,565
1281.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿491.3K
$1,056 ₹101.1K
1291.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 ฿1,867
$19.41 ₹1,858
187.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51 ฿853
$18.20 ₹1,742
40.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 ฿3,045
$52.8 ₹5,052
72.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,450
$43.93 ₹4,205
66.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.2K
$123 ₹11.8K
292.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,634
$72.8 ₹6,966
296.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ฿29.6K
$267 ₹25.6K
231.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$523 ฿17.5K
$168 ₹16.0K
212.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,989 ฿66.5K
$974 ₹93.2K
104.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,440 ฿48.2K
$512 ₹49.0K
181.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 ฿20.2K
$783 ₹75.0K
-23.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8
-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Abohar: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Chiang Mai and $123 in Abohar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abohar pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $13.00 in Abohar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $108 per month, with Abohar 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
Chiang Mai vs Abohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abohar cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Abohar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 137% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Abohar?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Abohar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Abohar?
Rent for a central apartment: $484 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Abohar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Abohar?
All in, you'll spend $942 per month in Chiang Mai versus $397 in Abohar – a 137% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Abohar runs roughly 647% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Abohar?
At $397 in Abohar versus $942 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abohar but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Abohar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Abohar more family-friendly?
For families, Abohar 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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Abohar?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Abohar 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abohar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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