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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $345 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $594 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $843 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Bhiwadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bhiwadi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bhiwadi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.54 ₹338

-45.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.81 ₹1,130

57.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$2.88 ₹276

171.53%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.14 ₹205

-8.88%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.22 ₹20.98

286.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.14 ₹13.68

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.37 ₹131

55.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.73 ₹357

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.71 ₹67.6

140.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.51 ₹48.40

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.84 ₹80.0

35.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$0.97 ₹92.4

98.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$2.81 ₹269

476.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.33 ₹223

33.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.09 ₹200

31.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.86 ₹82.6

40.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.00 ₹95.7

62.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.62 ₹59.4

156.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.24 ₹23.00

483.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.26 ₹24.55

350.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.69 ₹65.7

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.36 ₹34.79

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.46 ₹426

5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.61 ₹729

145.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.68 ₹161

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.71 ₹259

19.19%

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

$6.87 ₹658

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.24 ₹23.07

275.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.53 ₹816

125.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.15 ₹110

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.41 ₹39.25

214.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.37 ₹227

230.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.16 ₹111

9.48%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$18.9K ₹1.8M

12.51%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$28.0K ₹2.7M

-20.63%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$44.12 ₹4,222

56.55%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.14 ₹396

240.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.35 ₹704

144.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$8.80 ₹842

366.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.15 ₹685

-2.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.89 ₹277

104.84%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$89.3 ₹8,546

234.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,400 ₹133.9K

968.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$17.75 ₹1,698

208.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$26.81 ₹2,566

-0.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$32.14 ₹3,076

164.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$23.18 ₹2,218

204.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$59.2 ₹5,662

623.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$34.71 ₹3,322

583.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$137 ₹13.1K

485.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$178 ₹17.1K

189.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$372 ₹35.6K

431.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$673 ₹64.4K

-8.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

-33.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bhiwadi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $59.2 in Bhiwadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Bhiwadi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Bhiwadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $100 – making Bhiwadi 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 Bhiwadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 151%, 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 $517 in Bhiwadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhiwadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $12.00 in Bhiwadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $345 in Bhiwadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $345 in Bhiwadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bhiwadi – 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 Bhiwadi. 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.