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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $392 in Abohar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $614 in Abohar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $837 in Abohar.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 120% more expensive than in Abohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Abohar 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.9
$1.19 ₹115
64.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$13.70 ₹1,319
33.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$3.44 ₹331
117.44%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$1.89 ₹182
6.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.52
$0.36 ₹34.90
136.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.97
$0.20 ₹19.25
80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.9
$1.72 ₹166
24.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.86 ₹275
25.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$0.74 ₹71.1
122.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$0.57 ₹55.0
175.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.05
$0.88 ₹84.4
35.23%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$0.81 ₹78.1
139.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿545
$4.16 ₹401
289.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$2.90 ₹279
3.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$2.07 ₹200
30.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.27
$0.53 ₹51.2
120.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$0.93 ₹89.6
81.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$0.53 ₹51.5
201.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$0.37 ₹35.62
272.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.47
$0.46 ₹43.86
160.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.51
$0.45 ₹43.16
48.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.74
$0.30 ₹29.30
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$3.99 ₹384
16.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$11.40 ₹1,098
54.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.6
$1.72 ₹166
8.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.71 ₹261
21.77%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.21 ₹502
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.70
$0.28 ₹26.62
214.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿651
$8.82 ₹849
119.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.92
$0.82 ₹79.2
65.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿45.00
$0.22 ₹21.06
509.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$1.25 ₹120
556.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.20
$1.17 ₹113
4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.5K
$14.5K ₹1.4M
46.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿758.1K
$23.7K ₹2.3M
-4.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,378
$48.47 ₹4,667
45.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$2.50 ₹241
461.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿589
$5.96 ₹573
193.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,418
$13.83 ₹1,332
204.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$7.20 ₹694
-4.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$2.36 ₹227
150.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$61.0 ₹5,869
406.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.7K
$1,185 ₹114.1K
1155.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,876
$22.00 ₹2,118
153.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿879
$20.63 ₹1,986
26.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,793
$47.90 ₹4,612
73.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,371
$33.14 ₹3,190
112.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$125 ₹12.0K
246.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,040
$75.2 ₹7,243
217.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$275 ₹26.4K
199.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$177 ₹17.1K
188.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$908 ₹87.4K
110.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.4K
$514 ₹49.5K
185.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Abohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$783 ₹75.4K
-25.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.3
-39.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Abohar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Abohar pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $14.00 in Abohar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $111 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 120% 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 35% 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $392 in Abohar – a 120% 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 119% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Abohar?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Abohar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 120% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities