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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $418 in Bulandshahr, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $674 in Bulandshahr, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $930 in Bulandshahr, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Bulandshahr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Bulandshahr are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Bulandshahr 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$5.29 ₹508
-60.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$14.36 ₹1,377
36.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$3.67 ₹352
54.50%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$2.40 ₹230
-24.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$0.41 ₹39.17
87.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$0.20 ₹18.72
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$2.05 ₹197
7.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$3.21 ₹308
18.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$0.69 ₹66.0
197.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.26 ₹24.86
480.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$0.82 ₹78.2
70.73%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$1.20 ₹115
88.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$4.08 ₹391
296.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$3.14 ₹302
-7.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$1.28 ₹123
109.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$0.70 ₹67.5
55.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$0.86 ₹82.5
88.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$0.59 ₹56.4
147.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$0.37 ₹35.90
245.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$0.48 ₹46.28
120.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$0.63 ₹60.7
14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$0.30 ₹29.14
76.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$2.03 ₹195
108.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$2.04 ₹195
796.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.20 ₹211
-25.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.96 ₹284
-2.03%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.19 ₹498
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$0.35 ₹33.94
151.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$7.28 ₹698
638.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$1.05 ₹101
11.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$0.09 ₹8.90
544.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$2.03 ₹195
17.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$0.98 ₹93.9
47.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$14.7K ₹1.4M
42.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$23.7K ₹2.3M
11.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$44.88 ₹4,306
41.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$4.98 ₹478
158.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$8.37 ₹803
145.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$15.35 ₹1,473
154.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$6.35 ₹609
-38.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$5.29 ₹507
24.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$47.74 ₹4,580
1542.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$1,418 ₹136.1K
934.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$31.06 ₹2,980
77.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$27.68 ₹2,656
-10.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$41.32 ₹3,964
127.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$51.7 ₹4,959
43.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$111 ₹10.6K
342.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$83.1 ₹7,968
247.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$236 ₹22.6K
278.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$180 ₹17.3K
189.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$920 ₹88.2K
114.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
$442 ₹42.4K
226.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.76
-36.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bulandshahr: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $111 in Bulandshahr. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Bulandshahr. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $92.0 – making Bulandshahr 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 Bulandshahr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Bulandshahr compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $418 in Bulandshahr – roughly 123% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Bulandshahr?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $626 in Bulandshahr. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Bulandshahr?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulandshahr, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $14.00 in Bulandshahr. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Bulandshahr?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $418 in Bulandshahr. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bulandshahr, where all-in costs run around $418, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Bulandshahr it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Bulandshahr?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $418 in Bulandshahr to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Bulandshahr safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Bulandshahr?
If budget matters most, go with Bulandshahr. 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.

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