Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bhimavaram

For one person, living is cheaper in Bhimavaram: $366 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
18

Cost of Living Index in Bhimavaram
Learn more

Bhimavaram Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Bhimavaram

🇮🇳 India

$366

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bhimavaram

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bhimavaram actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $366 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Bhimavaram $366

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $585 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Bhimavaram $585

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $804 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Bhimavaram $804

Chiang Mai costs about 156% more than Bhimavaram, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bhimavaram are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bhimavaram 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$2.14 ₹201

-0.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿624

$10.71 ₹1,005

73.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$3.76 ₹353

48.94%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.66 ₹156

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

$0.65 ฿21.69

$0.38 ₹35.32

71.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.22

$0.13 ₹12.02

130.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

$1.80 ₹169

28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.96 ₹278

23.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$0.68 ₹63.6

197.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.21

$0.44 ₹41.49

220.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.67

$0.68 ₹63.6

104.41%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$0.85 ₹79.5

178.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$4.48 ₹421

268.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.5

$2.77 ₹260

-3.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.4

$1.91 ₹179

25.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.91

$0.62 ₹58.6

67.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.97 ₹91.2

71.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$0.45 ₹42.67

246.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.50

$0.35 ₹33.33

254.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.44

$0.38 ₹35.29

186.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.54

$0.46 ₹43.57

65.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.24

$0.31 ₹29.37

64.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$5.18 ₹486

-20.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿601

$7.42 ₹697

141.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.57 ₹148

3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.6

$2.69 ₹252

4.83%

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

$4.81 ₹452

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.33

$0.23 ₹21.65

304.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,773

$7.02 ₹659

653.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.45

$0.86 ₹81.1

37.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$0.27 ₹25.52

-37.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$1.60 ₹151

13.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.38

$1.09 ₹102

34.86%

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

$21.0K ฿704.5K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

87.75%

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

$26.5K ฿889.1K

$20.0K ₹1.9M

32.76%

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

$62.6 ฿2,098

$34.58 ₹3,247

80.91%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$3.31 ₹311

250.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$6.64 ₹624

205.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,270

$13.91 ₹1,306

172.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$6.64 ₹623

-44.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$2.86 ₹268

127.62%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$46.63 ₹4,379

1459.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿555.7K

$1,446 ₹135.8K

1046.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,795

$21.56 ₹2,025

148.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$23.40 ₹2,197

5.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,031

$38.70 ₹3,634

133.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,413

$28.65 ₹2,691

151.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$120 ₹11.3K

299.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$76.0 ₹7,140

307.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$267 ₹25.1K

296.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$183 ₹17.2K

259.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

$938 ₹88.1K

157.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.9K

$526 ₹49.4K

205.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bhimavaram: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Bhimavaram

$76 20.8% 75.5% $234

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Bhimavaram

$100 27.2% 57.9% $137

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Bhimavaram

$51 13.8% 53.3% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Bhimavaram

$45 12.2% 52.9% $50

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Bhimavaram

$65 17.9% 14.7% $11

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Bhimavaram

$10 2.8% 82.7% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Bhimavaram

$20 5.4% 61.5% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $120 in Bhimavaram. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Bhimavaram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $100 – making Bhimavaram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Bhimavaram

🕒 Local time

00:43 12:43 AM

23:13 11:13 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

142,184

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.65 USD

1,000 INR = 9.48 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 93.9 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 105 INR (1,000 INR = 9.48 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Bhimavaram 1,870 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bhimavaram

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bhimavaram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 156%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $549 in Bhimavaram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhimavaram, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $120 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $47 in Bhimavaram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 138% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Bhimavaram – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Bhimavaram is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 61% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.