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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $340 in Allahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $545 in Allahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $750 in Allahabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 153% more than Allahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Allahabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Allahabad 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$1.76 ₹170
11.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$11.75 ₹1,134
56.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$2.99 ₹288
150.17%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$1.00 ₹96.1
102.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$0.31 ₹29.74
174.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$0.15 ₹14.79
140.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$1.76 ₹170
21.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.63 ₹254
36.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$0.77 ₹73.9
114.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$0.47 ₹45.30
234.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$0.67 ₹64.4
77.61%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$0.99 ₹95.0
95.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$3.83 ₹369
322.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$2.78 ₹268
7.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$1.50 ₹145
80.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$0.62 ₹59.6
88.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$0.94 ₹90.8
79.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$0.52 ₹49.90
207.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.33 ₹31.39
318.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$0.46 ₹44.07
160.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$0.37 ₹36.00
81.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$0.29 ₹28.42
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$3.83 ₹369
21.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$3.56 ₹344
394.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.71 ₹165
8.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.85 ₹275
15.79%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.54 ₹534
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$0.22 ₹21.10
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$6.87 ₹663
181.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$1.13 ₹109
20.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$0.11 ₹10.92
1118.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$1.37 ₹132
499.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.17 ₹113
4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$15.4K ₹1.5M
38.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$23.9K ₹2.3M
-5.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$44.82 ₹4,322
57.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$3.25 ₹314
332.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$6.79 ₹655
157.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$11.86 ₹1,144
255.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$8.10 ₹781
-15.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$3.54 ₹341
67.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$27.44 ₹2,646
1024.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$696 ₹67.1K
2038.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$26.60 ₹2,565
109.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$24.08 ₹2,322
8.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$27.22 ₹2,625
205.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$24.58 ₹2,370
186.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$122 ₹11.8K
252.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$73.9 ₹7,122
223.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$233 ₹22.5K
252.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$167 ₹16.1K
206.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$984 ₹94.9K
94.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$507 ₹48.9K
189.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Allahabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$377 ₹36.4K
53.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.72
-42.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Allahabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Allahabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Allahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $90.0 – making Allahabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Allahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Allahabad?
Chiang Mai costs about 153% more than Allahabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Allahabad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $511 in Allahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Allahabad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Allahabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Allahabad?
Groceries cost about 170% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Allahabad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $12.00 in Allahabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Allahabad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $340 in Allahabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Allahabad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Allahabad costs $340 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Allahabad?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Allahabad?
If budget matters most, go with Allahabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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