😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $318 in Bareilly, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $520 in Bareilly, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $722 in Bareilly, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 193% more than Bareilly, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Bareilly are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Bareilly77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$3.06₹294
-32.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$6.19₹594
216.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$2.12₹203
167.45%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$1.33₹127
36.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.36₹34.62
113.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.13₹12.75
169.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$1.27₹122
74.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$1.55₹149
144.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.68₹65.4
201.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.41₹39.58
268.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$0.74₹70.9
89.19%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$0.98₹93.6
130.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$3.08₹295
425.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$3.17₹304
-8.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$1.03₹98.5
160.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$0.62₹59.5
75.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$0.50₹47.95
224.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.32₹31.04
356.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.26₹25.10
392.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.29₹27.66
265.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.47₹44.68
53.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.28₹26.84
89.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$1.90₹183
122.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$4.27₹409
328.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.13₹109
44.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$1.84₹176
57.61%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.54₹436
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.24₹23.29
266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$7.17₹688
649.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$0.78₹74.5
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.10₹9.91
480.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$1.53₹147
56.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.09₹104
33.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$12.7K₹1.2M
65.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$16.2K₹1.6M
63.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$41.31₹3,964
54.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$3.07₹294
319.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$6.13₹588
234.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$14.22₹1,364
174.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$6.17₹592
-36.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$4.14₹397
58.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$52.4₹5,022
1397.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$1,372₹131.7K
969.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$12.45₹1,194
342.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$24.69₹2,368
0.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$35.84₹3,438
162.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$21.30₹2,044
247.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$72.7₹6,974
574.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$55.1₹5,287
422.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$267₹25.6K
234.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$167₹16.0K
212.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$1,107₹106.2K
78.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$483₹46.3K
199.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$462₹44.3K
30.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9.86
-43.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Bareilly: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $72.7 in Bareilly. 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 30% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Bareilly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $80.0 – making Bareilly 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 Bareilly: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bareilly cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 193%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $478 in Bareilly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bareilly, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 650% less in Bareilly. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.4 in Bareilly. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Bareilly?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bareilly, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Bareilly it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Bareilly more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bareilly – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Bareilly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bareilly. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared