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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $272 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $435 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $599 in Bhiwadi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 250% more than Bhiwadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bhiwadi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bhiwadi 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.04 ₹98.9

101.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.48 ₹1,001

89.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.61 ₹345

60.39%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.02 ₹193

-9.41%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.33 ₹31.98

136.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.15 ₹14.53

106.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.23 ₹118

90.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.59 ₹248

42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.65 ₹62.2

212.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.56 ₹53.3

185.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.80 ₹76.4

77.50%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.96 ₹91.6

127.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$2.49 ₹238

538.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.17 ₹208

41.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.30 ₹125

102.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.55 ₹52.4

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.82 ₹78.2

98.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.65 ₹62.0

135.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.20 ₹19.09

520.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.27 ₹25.97

318.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.77 ₹74.0

-3.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.28 ₹26.69

78.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.03 ₹480

-14.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.21 ₹689

149.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.38 ₹132

23.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.69 ₹257

7.81%

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

$7.44 ₹711

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.20 ₹19.08

370.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.31 ₹29.53

296.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.20 ₹19.08

165.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.24 ₹119

93.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.10 ₹105

30.91%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$10.7K ₹1.0M

97.55%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.6K ₹1.9M

38.99%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$33.88 ₹3,237

91.65%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.44 ₹329

288.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$6.42 ₹614

224.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$7.77 ₹743

420.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.57 ₹246

161.09%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$35.64 ₹3,405

2108.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,038 ₹99.2K

1356.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$16.17 ₹1,545

247.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$19.48 ₹1,861

28.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$15.87 ₹1,516

484.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$28.03 ₹2,678

168.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$52.0 ₹4,971

829.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$31.89 ₹3,046

800.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$137 ₹13.1K

563.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$96.4 ₹9,206

450.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$377 ₹36.0K

425.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$678 ₹64.8K

-10.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.33

-33.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bhiwadi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 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 12% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Bhiwadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $88.0 – 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 250%, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $407 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $10.00 in Bhiwadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% 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 Bhiwadi, where all-in costs run around $272, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Bhiwadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.