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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $315 in Bikaner, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $524 in Bikaner, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Bikaner, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Bikaner, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bikaner are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bikaner 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.53 ₹336

-43.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$8.27 ₹787

127.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.51 ₹239

208.76%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.31 ₹125

46.56%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.36 ₹34.15

119.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.14 ₹13.21

157.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.21 ₹115

82.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.89 ₹370

-5.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.50 ₹47.46

230.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.44 ₹41.75

270.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.73 ₹69.1

63.01%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.99 ₹94.4

102.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.54 ₹526

188.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.15 ₹300

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.79 ₹170

54.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.49 ₹46.91

140.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.55 ₹52.4

198.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.54 ₹51.8

181.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.25 ₹23.65

452.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.40 ₹37.69

197.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.36 ₹34.50

94.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.33 ₹30.94

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.47 ₹330

31.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$4.28 ₹407

286.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.57 ₹149

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.64 ₹346

-12.09%

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

$3.38 ₹321

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.04 ₹98.5

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.79 ₹836

112.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.62 ₹58.9

119.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.22 ₹20.82

509.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.48 ₹141

429.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.24 ₹118

-0.81%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$8,852 ₹841.8K

144.29%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$10.6K ₹1.0M

113.27%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$24.36 ₹2,316

189.57%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.09 ₹293

342.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.85 ₹747

122.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$16.75 ₹1,593

146.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$1.72 ₹163

304.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.32 ₹315

73.80%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$58.7 ₹5,586

422.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,302 ₹123.8K

1022.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.90 ₹2,368

124.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.67 ₹2,346

6.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$33.29 ₹3,166

157.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$30.07 ₹2,860

140.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$65.2 ₹6,196

559.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$32.19 ₹3,062

641.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$176 ₹16.8K

363.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$114 ₹10.9K

347.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$291 ₹27.7K

112.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-28.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bikaner: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $65.2 in Bikaner. 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 113% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Bikaner. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $96.0 – making Bikaner 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 Bikaner: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Bikaner, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $473 in Bikaner. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.7 in Bikaner. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $315 in Bikaner, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bikaner costs $315 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bikaner. 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.