😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $366 in Burhanpur.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $589 in Burhanpur.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $811 in Burhanpur.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 133% more expensive than in Burhanpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai36% lower, Burhanpur72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$2.93₹279
-30.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$9.27₹884
101.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$4.55₹434
72.75%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$2.50₹238
-18.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.24₹22.91
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.16₹15.47
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$1.77₹169
20.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$3.58₹341
2.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$0.59₹56.6
193.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.24₹22.92
554.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$0.28₹26.69
328.57%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$0.68₹64.5
189.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$5.90₹563
175.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$2.52₹240
21.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$2.61₹249
6.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$0.59₹56.2
98.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.02₹97.7
67.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$0.79₹75.8
101.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.12₹11.02
1058.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.13₹12.63
792.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.56₹53.9
17.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.33₹31.77
57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$4.54₹433
2.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$4.26₹406
317.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.86₹178
-3.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$3.22₹307
3.73%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$2.39₹228
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.30₹28.87
203.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$8.56₹817
117.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$0.56₹53.4
151.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.24₹22.97
458.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$1.42₹135
471.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.18₹113
4.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$9,515₹907.4K
125.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$19.1K₹1.8M
14.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$25.42₹2,424
180.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$3.87₹369
262.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$2.98₹285
501.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$8.67₹827
370.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$7.15₹682
-3.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$5.19₹495
10.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$31.53₹3,007
877.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$1,219₹116.3K
1103.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$18.92₹1,804
194.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$27.82₹2,653
-6.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$28.62₹2,730
196.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$35.12₹3,349
102.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$126₹12.0K
236.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$77.1₹7,353
214.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$279₹26.6K
185.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$180₹17.2K
181.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$1,071₹102.2K
79.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$554₹52.8K
164.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Burhanpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$173₹16.5K
243.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.99
-44.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Burhanpur: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $126 in Burhanpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 243% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $9.00 in Burhanpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $98.0 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Burhanpur?
Average pay runs 243% higher in Chiang Mai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Burhanpur?
Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 118% 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 $308 in Chiang Mai versus $31.53 in Burhanpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Burhanpur?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Burhanpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 133% 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