ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $356 in Bareilly, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $551 in Bareilly, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $745 in Bareilly, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 139% more than Bareilly, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Bareilly are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Bareilly73% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$2.27âđ216
-13.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$6.93âđ658
171.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$2.35âđ223
237.02%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.56âđ148
22.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.34âđ31.87
147.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.13âđ12.06
169.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$1.59âđ151
38.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$2.60âđ247
46.15%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$0.76âđ72.6
115.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.46âđ43.51
252.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$0.66âđ63.0
78.79%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$1.03âđ98.3
95.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$3.52âđ334
351.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$2.76âđ262
9.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$1.14âđ109
128.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$0.61âđ57.5
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$0.60âđ57.3
183.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$0.37âđ34.75
327.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.30âđ28.40
340.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.34âđ32.30
244.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.35âđ33.08
91.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.34âđ32.08
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$2.14âđ204
111.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$8.28âđ786
119.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.42âđ135
28.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.80âđ266
15.36%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.37âđ510
-
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.28âđ26.57
217.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$8.94âđ849
116.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$1.14âđ108
18.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.18âđ16.98
650.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$1.43âđ136
476.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.21âđ115
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$15.9Kâđ1.5M
33.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$23.5Kâđ2.2M
-4.38%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$43.52âđ4,132
61.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$3.43âđ325
301.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$7.13âđ677
146.84%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$8.62âđ818
382.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$7.12âđ676
-7.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$3.40âđ323
70.00%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$56.7âđ5,379
440.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$1,633âđ155.0K
808.10%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$13.86âđ1,316
292.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$24.16âđ2,294
8.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$41.93âđ3,981
101.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$25.16âđ2,388
175.95%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$47.35âđ4,496
794.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$76.6âđ7,275
210.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$274âđ26.0K
200.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$177âđ16.8K
191.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$883âđ83.9K
132.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$561âđ53.2K
171.62%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bareilly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$369âđ35.0K
72.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.1
-38.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bareilly: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $47.35 in Bareilly. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 72% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Bareilly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $93.0 â 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 â Chiang Mai is pricier by about 139%, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $534 in Bareilly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 117% less in Bareilly. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $56.7 in Bareilly. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Bareilly?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $356 in Bareilly, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Chiang Mai or Bareilly more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bareilly â 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 â 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