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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $305 in Bhilai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $503 in Bhilai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $701 in Bhilai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 183% more expensive than in Bhilai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bhilai 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.58 ₹249

-24.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$8.18 ₹787

124.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.13 ₹301

138.98%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.87 ₹180

8.02%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.28 ₹26.52

203.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.19 ₹18.34

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.52 ₹146

40.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.30 ₹317

8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.69 ₹66.2

139.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.30 ₹28.43

423.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.65 ₹62.9

83.08%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.92 ₹88.9

110.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.57 ₹440

254.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.81 ₹271

6.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.12 ₹204

27.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.60 ₹57.8

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.65 ₹62.9

160.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.39 ₹37.88

310.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.42 ₹40.82

228.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.47 ₹44.82

155.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.22 ₹21.16

204.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.27 ₹25.62

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.30 ₹222

101.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$4.57 ₹440

285.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.02 ₹98.1

82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.37 ₹228

39.24%

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

$4.05 ₹390

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.24 ₹23.20

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$2.84 ₹273

580.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.18 ₹114

15.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.24 ₹23.17

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.71 ₹164

380.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.22 ₹117

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$11.7K ₹1.1M

82.91%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$20.3K ₹2.0M

11.21%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$23.67 ₹2,278

198.56%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.87 ₹372

262.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$6.32 ₹608

176.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$3.47 ₹334

1114.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.88 ₹662

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.72 ₹166

244.19%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$57.0 ₹5,487

441.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,490 ₹143.4K

898.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$17.61 ₹1,695

216.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$17.70 ₹1,704

47.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$17.77 ₹1,711

367.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$27.67 ₹2,664

154.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$124 ₹11.9K

248.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$69.5 ₹6,692

243.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$273 ₹26.3K

200.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$182 ₹17.6K

180.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$653 ₹62.9K

-11.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bhilai: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $124 in Bhilai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bhilai pays 13% 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 $8.00 in Bhilai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $88.0 per month, with Bhilai 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 Bhilai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bhilai differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $305 including rent). Bhilai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Bhilai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Bhilai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $57.0 in Bhilai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 177% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bhilai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bhilai 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 Bhilai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.