😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $445 in Bulandshahr, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $703 in Bulandshahr, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $960 in Bulandshahr, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 95% more than Bulandshahr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Bulandshahr are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Bulandshahr67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$4.56₹437
-57.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$13.80₹1,320
35.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$4.10₹393
90.73%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$2.07₹199
-5.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.45₹43.00
88.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.15₹14.01
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$2.14₹205
-0.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$3.45₹331
8.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.73₹69.7
134.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$0.27₹25.86
503.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$0.77₹74.0
48.05%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$1.14₹109
69.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$4.56₹436
255.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$3.43₹328
-9.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$2.12₹203
29.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$0.84₹80.2
44.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$0.93₹89.3
74.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$0.59₹56.7
169.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$0.41₹39.30
241.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$0.55₹52.2
112.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$0.60₹57.6
10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.33₹32.04
60.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$2.28₹218
105.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$2.13₹204
776.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.85₹177
-2.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.73₹261
18.32%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.39₹516
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.30₹29.08
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$8.93₹855
115.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$0.57₹54.4
147.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$0.26₹25.01
396.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$1.26₹120
522.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$1.02₹97.6
24.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
$17.5K₹1.7M
21.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$23.6K₹2.3M
-5.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$66.1₹6,329
4.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$4.19₹401
236.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$8.01₹766
124.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$16.23₹1,553
152.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$6.98₹668
-0.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$4.74₹454
24.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$80.6₹7,713
271.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$2,001₹191.5K
647.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$27.72₹2,653
97.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$30.96₹2,962
-13.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$48.31₹4,623
75.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$36.75₹3,516
92.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$124₹11.9K
245.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
$74.8₹7,156
217.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$276₹26.4K
190.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$184₹17.6K
180.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$968₹92.6K
103.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$509₹48.8K
189.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Bulandshahr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9
-44.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bulandshahr: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Bulandshahr. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $99.0 – 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 Bulandshahr compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $445 in Bulandshahr – roughly 95% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $668 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 $19.00 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $445 in Bulandshahr. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Chiang Mai vs Bulandshahr?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $445 in Bulandshahr, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
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 $445 in Bulandshahr to $866 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared