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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $358 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $575 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $793 in Bhimavaram, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 165% more than Bhimavaram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bhimavaram are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bhimavaram 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.14 ₹202

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$9.48 ₹896

107.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.04 ₹382

39.85%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.49 ₹141

21.48%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.43 ₹40.79

65.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.12 ₹11.78

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.69 ₹159

32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.13 ₹296

15.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.67 ₹63.6

192.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.46 ₹43.87

226.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.66 ₹62.3

103.03%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.90 ₹85.1

151.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$4.59 ₹434

254.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.89 ₹273

2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.92 ₹182

33.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.61 ₹57.2

73.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.08 ₹102

49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.44 ₹42.02

245.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.36 ₹33.69

252.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.38 ₹36.07

181.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.45 ₹42.65

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.31 ₹29.55

64.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.72 ₹540

-26.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.40 ₹699

141.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.59 ₹150

6.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.56 ₹241

10.94%

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

$5.13 ₹485

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.30 ₹27.97

210.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$6.72 ₹635

701.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.75 ₹70.8

64.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.24 ₹22.21

141.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.76 ₹167

37.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.94 ₹88.8

50.00%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$12.0K ₹1.1M

78.02%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$19.9K ₹1.9M

37.37%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$35.45 ₹3,349

79.61%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$2.87 ₹272

347.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$6.10 ₹577

231.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$15.99 ₹1,510

142.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.57 ₹526

-28.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$2.97 ₹280

126.94%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$54.1 ₹5,111

1337.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,407 ₹132.9K

938.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$21.84 ₹2,064

148.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$25.31 ₹2,391

0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$36.48 ₹3,447

158.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$30.44 ₹2,876

141.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$124 ₹11.8K

293.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$73.5 ₹6,941

293.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$268 ₹25.3K

233.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$173 ₹16.3K

199.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$975 ₹92.1K

100.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$512 ₹48.3K

188.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bhimavaram: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Bhimavaram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $101 – 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 165%, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $537 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $54.1 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 it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bhimavaram, where all-in costs run around $358, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Bhimavaram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.