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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $343 in Chhindwara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $581 in Chhindwara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $818 in Chhindwara.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 153% more expensive than Chhindwara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Chhindwara 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.30 ₹218

-13.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.49 ₹998

79.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.66 ₹348

111.75%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.59 ₹151

20.75%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.38 ₹35.80

107.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.16 ₹14.80

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.76 ₹167

25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.05 ₹290

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.66 ₹62.9

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.40 ₹37.68

307.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.53 ₹50.7

124.53%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.96 ₹91.6

108.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$4.94 ₹470

223.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.96 ₹377

-23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.03 ₹193

35.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.45 ₹42.67

162.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.90 ₹85.8

82.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.56 ₹53.0

171.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.40 ₹37.67

245.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.50 ₹47.71

138.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.49 ₹46.87

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.38 ₹36.27

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.97 ₹378

15.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.03 ₹668

135.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.74 ₹166

5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.79 ₹265

14.70%

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

$5.29 ₹503

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.27 ₹25.80

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.75 ₹832

113.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.85 ₹80.8

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.24 ₹22.94

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.41 ₹135

456.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.22 ₹116

0.82%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$14.0K ₹1.3M

54.20%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$22.2K ₹2.1M

1.47%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$38.39 ₹3,651

83.75%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$2.93 ₹279

366.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.22 ₹686

141.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$9.27 ₹882

345.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.17 ₹682

-2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.89 ₹275

99.65%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$34.49 ₹3,280

790.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,530 ₹145.5K

855.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$16.56 ₹1,575

236.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.38 ₹2,414

3.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$42.39 ₹4,031

102.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$31.42 ₹2,988

129.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$58.5 ₹5,562

634.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$35.12 ₹3,339

579.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$272 ₹25.9K

200.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$177 ₹16.8K

189.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$972 ₹92.5K

103.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$523 ₹49.8K

183.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$212 ₹20.1K

192.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chhindwara: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $58.5 in Chhindwara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 193% 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 $10.00 in Chhindwara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $108 per month, with Chhindwara 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 Chhindwara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Chhindwara differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $343 including rent). Chhindwara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chiang Mai pays 193% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $58.5 in Chhindwara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $307 in Chiang Mai versus $34.49 in Chhindwara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 124% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Chhindwara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Chhindwara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chhindwara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.