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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $385 in Dharwad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $609 in Dharwad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $832 in Dharwad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Dharwad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dharwad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Dharwad 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.39 ₹228

-14.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$10.60 ₹1,011

76.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.80 ₹363

106.84%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.52 ₹145

33.55%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.40 ₹38.25

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.16 ₹15.13

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.70 ₹162

25.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.11 ₹297

18.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.70 ₹67.2

147.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.49 ₹46.48

220.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.66 ₹63.0

81.82%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.89 ₹84.7

121.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$5.10 ₹486

218.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.03 ₹289

0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.06 ₹197

34.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.71 ₹68.2

64.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.99 ₹94.3

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.55 ₹52.0

189.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.38 ₹36.64

265.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.41 ₹39.40

182.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.45 ₹42.96

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.32 ₹30.36

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.97 ₹379

17.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$7.21 ₹688

146.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.77 ₹169

1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.81 ₹268

18.86%

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

$5.01 ₹478

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.28 ₹26.44

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.47 ₹808

120.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.78 ₹74.0

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.26 ₹24.84

415.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.46 ₹139

455.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.16 ₹111

6.03%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$13.7K ₹1.3M

56.50%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$21.5K ₹2.0M

1.57%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$38.89 ₹3,709

83.41%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.41 ₹325

310.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$7.56 ₹721

137.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$15.72 ₹1,499

159.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.01 ₹668

-1.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.83 ₹270

102.12%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$51.3 ₹4,896

500.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,568 ₹149.5K

836.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$24.02 ₹2,291

132.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$25.36 ₹2,419

2.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$42.79 ₹4,081

98.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$32.20 ₹3,071

120.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$123 ₹11.7K

245.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$74.9 ₹7,142

223.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$274 ₹26.1K

190.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$180 ₹17.1K

182.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$862 ₹82.2K

122.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$480 ₹45.8K

204.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dharwad: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Dharwad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Dharwad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $106 – making Dharwad 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 Dharwad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Dharwad, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $578 in Dharwad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.3 in Dharwad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 130% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $385 in Dharwad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharwad costs $385 versus $852 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 Dharwad. 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.