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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $351 in Bhuj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $611 in Bhuj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $871 in Bhuj.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bhuj 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$2.08 ₹200

-5.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$7.48 ₹721

145.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$3.42 ₹329

118.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$1.42 ₹136

42.25%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.33 ₹31.50

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.19 ₹18.46

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.08 ₹104

98.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.76 ₹169

103.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$0.72 ₹69.3

129.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.49 ₹47.28

220.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$0.69 ₹66.6

72.46%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$1.02 ₹98.1

90.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$5.76 ₹555

181.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$2.99 ₹287

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$2.69 ₹259

0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.72 ₹69.0

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.01 ₹97.2

67.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.69 ₹66.5

131.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.36 ₹34.99

283.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$0.49 ₹47.62

144.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$0.56 ₹53.9

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.34 ₹32.55

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.37 ₹228

95.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$7.35 ₹708

139.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$2.29 ₹220

-18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.72 ₹166

91.86%

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

$8.32 ₹801

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.30 ₹29.27

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$8.84 ₹851

118.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$0.84 ₹80.4

61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$0.18 ₹17.07

644.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.47 ₹142

458.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.17 ₹113

4.27%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$14.1K ₹1.4M

51.98%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$21.9K ₹2.1M

3.09%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$17.68 ₹1,702

299.72%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$3.46 ₹333

305.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$10.33 ₹995

69.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$11.80 ₹1,136

257.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$13.78 ₹1,327

-50.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.93 ₹283

102.05%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$51.8 ₹4,991

495.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$1,540 ₹148.3K

866.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$24.64 ₹2,373

126.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$25.27 ₹2,433

3.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$43.70 ₹4,207

89.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$32.07 ₹3,088

119.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$86.7 ₹8,351

398.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$66.8 ₹6,433

257.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$214 ₹20.6K

284.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$261 ₹25.1K

96.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$990 ₹95.3K

93.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$519 ₹49.9K

182.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$581 ₹56.0K

-0.36%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bhuj: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $86.7 in Bhuj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bhuj pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $7.00 in Bhuj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 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 ($861 vs $351 including rent). Bhuj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Bhuj. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $86.7 in Bhuj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $351 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 119% 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.