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 $384 in Dharwad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $611 in Dharwad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $837 in Dharwad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% 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

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.30 ₹218

-14.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$10.66 ₹1,012

76.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.79 ₹360

108.97%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.54 ₹146

24.03%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.41 ₹38.48

104.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.16 ₹15.01

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.75 ₹167

26.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.08 ₹292

23.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.70 ₹66.4

134.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.45 ₹42.70

260.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.68 ₹64.3

73.53%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.95 ₹90.7

111.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.92 ₹467

222.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.94 ₹279

2.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.05 ₹195

27.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.68 ₹64.1

79.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.97 ₹92.2

75.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.51 ₹48.10

209.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.39 ₹36.88

238.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.41 ₹38.94

185.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.45 ₹42.57

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.35 ₹32.78

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.85 ₹365

17.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.73 ₹734

135.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.75 ₹166

4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.90 ₹276

11.38%

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

$5.20 ₹493

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₹26.26

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.77 ₹833

120.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.80 ₹75.8

68.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.26 ₹24.92

419.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.48 ₹141

457.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.21 ₹115

4.96%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

49.58%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$21.5K ₹2.0M

4.43%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$39.70 ₹3,769

76.70%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.54 ₹336

288.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.60 ₹721

131.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.03 ₹1,522

159.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.11 ₹675

-7.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.86 ₹272

102.10%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$50.9 ₹4,832

501.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,557 ₹147.8K

852.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$23.94 ₹2,273

127.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.54 ₹2,425

2.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$43.22 ₹4,104

95.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$32.15 ₹3,052

115.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$125 ₹11.9K

239.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$76.4 ₹7,252

211.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$271 ₹25.7K

204.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$180 ₹17.1K

185.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$976 ₹92.7K

109.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$573 ₹54.4K

165.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dharwad: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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: $243 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 122% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $577 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.9 in Dharwad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 129% 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 $384 in Dharwad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharwad costs $384 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.