Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Andaman Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Andaman Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $392 in Andaman Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $624 in Andaman Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $856 in Andaman Islands.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 121% more expensive than Andaman Islands, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Andaman Islands 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$2.39 ₹227

-18.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$10.46 ₹993

78.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.67 ₹348

113.08%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.52 ₹144

28.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.40 ₹38.07

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.22 ₹20.68

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.78 ₹169

19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.01 ₹286

23.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.03 ₹97.5

66.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.54 ₹51.7

201.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$0.84 ₹79.7

35.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$0.88 ₹83.6

119.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$4.98 ₹473

225.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.05 ₹290

2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$2.18 ₹207

26.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$0.69 ₹65.5

75.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.97 ₹92.4

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.55 ₹51.8

189.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.35 ₹33.50

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.41 ₹39.25

185.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.49 ₹46.39

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.25 ₹23.54

112.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$3.92 ₹372

19.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$6.68 ₹635

179.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$1.76 ₹167

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.87 ₹273

12.54%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.18 ₹491

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.28 ₹26.38

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$8.65 ₹822

122.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.78 ₹74.2

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.26 ₹24.83

396.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$1.48 ₹141

429.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$1.10 ₹104

15.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$13.8K ₹1.3M

54.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$21.8K ₹2.1M

2.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,265

$38.24 ₹3,631

80.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿462

$3.54 ₹336

297.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$7.40 ₹702

143.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$15.70 ₹1,491

161.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$6.89 ₹654

1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$2.90 ₹275

104.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,805

$51.7 ₹4,912

477.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$1,553 ₹147.5K

862.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$24.81 ₹2,356

120.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$25.12 ₹2,385

6.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$42.86 ₹4,069

98.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$31.61 ₹3,001

123.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$126 ₹11.9K

240.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$75.5 ₹7,169

214.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$273 ₹26.0K

193.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$181 ₹17.2K

185.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$980 ₹93.0K

101.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$518 ₹49.2K

184.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$290 ₹27.5K

113.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Andaman Islands: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $126 in Andaman Islands. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 113% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $10.00 in Andaman Islands for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $109 per month, with Andaman Islands 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 Andaman Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Andaman Islands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 121% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 113% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Andaman Islands. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Andaman Islands runs roughly 122% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $51.7 in Andaman Islands. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Andaman Islands gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Andaman Islands 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.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Andaman Islands are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Andaman Islands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.