😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $339 in Burhanpur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $540 in Burhanpur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $741 in Burhanpur.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 175% more expensive than in Burhanpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai32% lower, Burhanpur75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$1.59₹152
30.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$7.99₹767
145.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$2.04₹196
177.94%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$1.89₹181
-4.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.34₹32.19
126.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.16₹15.17
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$1.06₹102
108.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$4.35₹418
-12.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.76₹72.9
169.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.48₹46.32
214.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$0.65₹62.5
115.38%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$0.85₹81.2
165.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$6.22₹597
160.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$2.58₹248
12.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$2.38₹228
12.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$0.52₹50.3
109.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$0.89₹85.7
82.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.64₹61.8
128.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.43₹40.85
197.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.48₹45.68
120.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.50₹47.58
44.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.29₹27.44
82.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$4.90₹470
-13.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$4.66₹447
292.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.92₹184
-15.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$4.02₹386
-27.86%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.74₹359
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.28₹27.32
214.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$6.17₹592
771.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$0.54₹51.4
116.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.25₹23.95
132.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$1.22₹117
95.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.06₹101
36.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$8,625₹827.5K
143.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$17.3K₹1.7M
52.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$22.67₹2,175
180.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$3.34₹321
285.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$6.51₹624
215.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$14.17₹1,359
175.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$5.63₹540
-30.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$3.40₹327
93.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$31.03₹2,977
2426.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$943₹90.5K
1455.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$13.20₹1,267
317.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$17.00₹1,631
45.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$37.01₹3,551
154.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$30.29₹2,906
144.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$131₹12.6K
274.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$64.6₹6,195
346.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$252₹24.2K
253.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$189₹18.1K
176.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$859₹82.5K
129.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$518₹49.6K
179.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9.24
-39.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Burhanpur: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $131 in Burhanpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $8.00 in Burhanpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $106 per month, with Burhanpur 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 Burhanpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burhanpur cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Burhanpur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 175% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $508 in Burhanpur to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Burhanpur?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $131 in Burhanpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Burhanpur runs roughly 771% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $784 in Chiang Mai versus $31.03 in Burhanpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Burhanpur?
At $339 in Burhanpur versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Burhanpur but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Burhanpur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Burhanpur more family-friendly?
For families, Burhanpur is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Burhanpur?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Burhanpur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Burhanpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 175% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared