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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $354 in Bhuj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $627 in Bhuj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $900 in Bhuj.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 145% more expensive than Bhuj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bhuj 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.99 ₹189

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.66 ₹729

143.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.40 ₹324

130.00%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.39 ₹132

40.29%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.35 ₹33.72

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.17 ₹15.92

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.03 ₹98.2

106.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.77 ₹169

110.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.67 ₹63.7

155.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.49 ₹46.86

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.69 ₹65.7

65.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.02 ₹96.9

89.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.03 ₹575

168.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.07 ₹292

1.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.68 ₹255

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.71 ₹67.5

70.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.94 ₹89.1

72.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.65 ₹61.5

144.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.40 ₹37.94

250.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.52 ₹49.88

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.57 ₹54.0

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.34 ₹32.30

55.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.39 ₹228

96.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.87 ₹654

171.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.30 ₹219

-21.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.69 ₹161

91.12%

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

$8.09 ₹771

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 ₹28.97

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.70 ₹829

120.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.83 ₹79.2

69.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.18 ₹17.20

616.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.41 ₹134

456.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.17 ₹111

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$13.7K ₹1.3M

55.18%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.5K ₹2.0M

3.35%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$17.25 ₹1,643

300.41%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.46 ₹330

306.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$10.32 ₹983

74.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$11.77 ₹1,121

248.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.79 ₹1,314

-49.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.98 ₹284

98.66%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$51.7 ₹4,922

478.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,564 ₹149.0K

856.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$24.59 ₹2,342

122.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.52 ₹2,431

4.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$43.19 ₹4,115

96.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$31.75 ₹3,025

122.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$84.9 ₹8,087

404.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$66.0 ₹6,283

259.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$210 ₹20.0K

282.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$261 ₹24.9K

97.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$960 ₹91.4K

105.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$513 ₹48.9K

187.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$578 ₹55.1K

6.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bhuj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $84.9 in Bhuj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $8.00 in Bhuj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $114 per month, with Bhuj cheaper across the board.

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 Bhuj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bhuj differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $354 including rent). Bhuj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chiang Mai pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $84.9 in Bhuj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $354 in Bhuj – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bhuj runs roughly 121% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bhuj gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bhuj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bhuj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.