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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $503 in Dehradun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $741 in Dehradun, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $978 in Dehradun, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Dehradun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dehradun are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Dehradun 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.92 ₹280

-28.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.50 ₹1,008

86.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.60 ₹345

57.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.09 ₹201

-13.40%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.38 ₹36.66

102.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.12 ₹11.99

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.84 ₹176

20.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.07 ₹295

23.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.68 ₹64.9

201.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.51 ₹49.26

196.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.63 ₹60.9

122.22%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.88 ₹84.8

156.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.32 ₹510

204.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.17 ₹304

-8.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.90 ₹183

41.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.71 ₹67.7

53.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.67 ₹64.4

141.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.45 ₹42.89

224.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.30 ₹28.89

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.33 ₹32.04

221.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.49 ₹47.06

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.27 ₹25.84

96.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.67 ₹448

-9.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.15 ₹973

80.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.47 ₹141

10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.03 ₹195

42.86%

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

$4.89 ₹469

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.35 ₹33.98

151.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$12.39 ₹1,188

333.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.01 ₹97.4

15.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.30 ₹28.52

93.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.54 ₹148

55.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.06 ₹102

36.79%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$12.8K ₹1.2M

64.37%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$18.2K ₹1.7M

45.18%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$63.0 ₹6,040

1.10%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.55 ₹341

263.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$7.28 ₹698

181.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$16.05 ₹1,540

143.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$9.61 ₹922

-59.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.62 ₹347

81.77%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$48.70 ₹4,672

1509.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$4,219 ₹404.8K

247.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$24.51 ₹2,351

124.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$27.29 ₹2,618

-9.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$39.58 ₹3,797

137.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$39.75 ₹3,814

86.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$215 ₹20.7K

127.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$152 ₹14.6K

89.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$414 ₹39.7K

115.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$259 ₹24.8K

101.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$732 ₹70.2K

169.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$457 ₹43.9K

215.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$362 ₹34.7K

66.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.88

-37.27%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dehradun: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $215 in Dehradun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 66% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Dehradun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $107 – making Dehradun 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 Dehradun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Dehradun, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $755 in Dehradun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dehradun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.70 in Dehradun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 125% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dehradun, where all-in costs run around $503, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Dehradun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehradun costs $503 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Dehradun. 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.