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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $905 per month in Chiang Mai vs $526 in Delhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,374 per month in Chiang Mai vs $897 in Delhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,843 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,268 in Delhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Delhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Delhi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Delhi 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.14 ₹395

-49.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 ฿649

$23.44 ₹2,235

-16.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 ฿197

$4.10 ₹391

44.88%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ฿56.6

$2.40 ₹229

-29.17%

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

$0.72 ฿23.90

$0.38 ₹36.49

89.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.78

$0.18 ₹17.05

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿81.2

$2.36 ₹225

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿122

$3.09 ₹295

18.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ฿61.7

$0.70 ₹66.3

165.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.8

$0.56 ₹53.8

178.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.17

$0.71 ₹67.9

87.32%

Eggs

$2.16 ฿71.8

$1.13 ₹108

91.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ฿518

$4.32 ₹412

260.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 ฿94.6

$3.57 ₹340

-20.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 ฿345

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ฿80.9

$1.96 ₹187

24.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.18

$0.74 ₹70.5

47.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.84

$1.05 ₹99.8

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿49.54

$0.55 ₹52.5

170.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.83

$0.30 ₹28.27

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.07

$0.36 ₹34.15

202.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.85

$0.43 ₹41.28

60.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.07

$0.31 ₹29.66

64.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 ฿145

$5.08 ₹484

-13.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.63 ฿553

$8.18 ₹781

103.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 ฿54.7

$1.58 ₹151

4.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿91.1

$2.61 ₹249

4.98%

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

$6.21 ₹592

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.34

$0.41 ₹38.68

129.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ฿1,819

$15.51 ₹1,479

252.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.03 ₹98.4

19.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.05

$0.27 ₹25.89

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ฿78.4

$1.55 ₹148

52.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.15

$1.03 ₹98.4

40.78%

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

$20.8K ฿692.6K

$11.9K ₹1.1M

74.71%

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

$26.3K ฿872.9K

$20.4K ₹1.9M

28.78%

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

$62.3 ฿2,071

$42.13 ₹4,018

47.90%

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

$13.01 ฿432

$4.44 ₹423

193.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.45 ฿646

$7.28 ₹694

167.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.68 ฿1,285

$19.07 ₹1,819

102.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.86 ฿128

$8.04 ₹766

-51.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿220

$5.28 ₹504

25.38%

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

$782 ฿26.0K

$91.6 ₹8,739

753.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿491.9K

$2,019 ₹192.5K

633.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ฿1,796

$24.74 ₹2,359

118.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.39 ฿844

$29.51 ₹2,814

-13.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,022

$53.3 ₹5,083

70.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,458

$45.45 ₹4,334

62.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ฿15.8K

$261 ₹24.9K

82.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ฿9,131

$160 ₹15.2K

72.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 ฿29.3K

$734 ₹70.0K

20.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ฿17.6K

$388 ₹37.0K

36.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.1K

$2,461 ₹234.7K

-19.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ฿49.1K

$923 ₹88.0K

59.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 ฿19.9K

$558 ₹53.2K

7.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.56

-34.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 2, 2026

Last update for Delhi: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Chiang Mai versus $261 in Delhi. 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 7% 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 $23.00 in Delhi. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $109 in Delhi – so Delhi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Delhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Delhi, 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 $1,358 per month in Chiang Mai and $790 in Delhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $782 per month in Chiang Mai and $91.6 in Delhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 116% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Delhi, where all-in costs run around $526, than in Chiang Mai at $905. In Delhi 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. Delhi costs $526 versus $905 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 Delhi. 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.