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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $383 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $607 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $832 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Bhimavaram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bhimavaram are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bhimavaram 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.38 ₹227

-18.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.55 ₹1,005

76.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.69 ₹351

111.92%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.52 ₹144

28.29%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.38 ₹36.06

123.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.14 ₹13.75

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.69 ₹161

26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.09 ₹294

20.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.65 ₹62.4

163.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.46 ₹43.73

254.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.71 ₹67.9

60.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.94 ₹90.0

105.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.14 ₹490

215.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.02 ₹288

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.06 ₹197

33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.68 ₹65.2

77.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.99 ₹93.9

63.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.54 ₹51.4

194.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.38 ₹36.55

268.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.45 ₹42.68

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.46 ₹43.73

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.32 ₹30.18

65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.06 ₹387

15.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.87 ₹654

171.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.76 ₹168

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.82 ₹269

14.54%

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

$5.05 ₹481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 ₹28.60

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.59 ₹818

123.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.84 ₹80.1

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.24 ₹22.64

437.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.44 ₹137

444.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.18 ₹112

7.63%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

52.92%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$22.2K ₹2.1M

0.11%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$38.87 ₹3,702

77.69%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.39 ₹322

315.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.34 ₹699

145.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$16.10 ₹1,534

155.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.05 ₹671

-1.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.85 ₹272

107.72%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$52.0 ₹4,956

474.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,536 ₹146.3K

873.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$23.93 ₹2,279

128.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.94 ₹2,375

7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$42.44 ₹4,042

100.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$31.12 ₹2,964

126.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$125 ₹11.9K

242.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$76.6 ₹7,299

209.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$270 ₹25.7K

197.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$182 ₹17.4K

182.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$979 ₹93.2K

101.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$525 ₹50.0K

181.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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 Bhimavaram: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Bhimavaram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $105 – making Bhimavaram 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 Bhimavaram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 126%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $574 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.0 in Bhimavaram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $383 in Bhimavaram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bhimavaram. 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.