Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cherthala

For one person, living is cheaper in Cherthala: $290 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
14

Cost of Living Index in Cherthala
Learn more

Cherthala Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Cherthala

🇮🇳 India

$290

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Cherthala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Cherthala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $290 in Cherthala, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Cherthala $290

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Cherthala, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Cherthala $472

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $654 in Cherthala, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Cherthala $654

Chiang Mai costs about 223% more than Cherthala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Cherthala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cherthala 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$0.76 ₹72.4

180.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$6.19 ₹586

200.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$2.31 ₹219

142.42%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.03 ₹97.5

61.17%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.33 ₹31.50

96.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.12 ₹11.79

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$1.46 ₹138

58.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$1.89 ₹179

94.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$0.60 ₹57.0

236.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.36 ₹33.75

291.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.51 ₹48.29

172.55%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$0.85 ₹80.8

178.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$3.77 ₹357

338.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$2.30 ₹218

16.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$2.14 ₹203

12.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$0.50 ₹47.81

108.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.88 ₹83.5

88.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$0.47 ₹44.43

231.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.34 ₹32.67

264.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.38 ₹36.42

186.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.41 ₹38.58

85.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.27 ₹25.79

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$1.93 ₹182

113.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$1.86 ₹176

863.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.06 ₹101

52.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$1.55 ₹147

81.94%

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

$3.48 ₹330

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.21 ₹19.90

342.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$6.93 ₹657

663.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.86 ₹81.7

37.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.49 ₹46.01

-65.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.62 ₹153

11.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$1.09 ₹103

34.86%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$11.3K ₹1.1M

85.94%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$19.7K ₹1.9M

34.54%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$20.89 ₹1,979

199.47%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$3.06 ₹290

279.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$4.32 ₹409

369.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$10.33 ₹978

266.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$5.94 ₹562

-37.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$1.62 ₹154

301.85%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$45.84 ₹4,343

1485.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$515 ₹48.8K

3115.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$7.53 ₹713

611.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$8.31 ₹787

198.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$70.9 ₹6,720

27.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$14.44 ₹1,368

398.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$122 ₹11.5K

296.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$76.8 ₹7,280

303.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$264 ₹25.0K

300.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$190 ₹18.0K

247.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$919 ₹87.1K

163.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$540 ₹51.2K

197.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$232 ₹22.0K

155.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.37

-40.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Cherthala: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Cherthala

$77 26.5% 75.2% $233

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Cherthala

$76 26.3% 67.8% $160

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Cherthala

$46 15.7% 57.9% $63

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Cherthala

$28 9.8% 70.1% $66

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Cherthala

$38 13.2% 50% $38

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Cherthala

$11 3.8% 81.1% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Cherthala

$14 4.7% 73.3% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Cherthala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.6 times higher, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $6 in Cherthala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $76 – making Cherthala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Cherthala

🕒 Local time

12:36 12:36 PM

11:06 11:06 AM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

45,827

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.56 USD

1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 94.73 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Cherthala 2,640 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Cherthala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cherthala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 223% more than Cherthala, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $435 in Cherthala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cherthala, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $6 in Cherthala. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $290 in Cherthala. That makes Cherthala about 69% cheaper.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Cherthala, where all-in costs run around $290, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Cherthala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cherthala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cherthala. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.