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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $311 in Durgapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $517 in Durgapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $723 in Durgapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Durgapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Durgapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Durgapur 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$2.38 ₹226

-17.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$11.45 ₹1,084

60.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$3.88 ₹367

102.84%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.5

$1.44 ₹136

35.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.59

$0.40 ₹38.04

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.53

$0.12 ₹11.68

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.7

$1.37 ₹130

56.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.30 ₹218

60.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.0

$0.58 ₹55.0

186.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.38 ₹36.01

310.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.66

$0.51 ₹48.31

133.33%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.8

$0.87 ₹82.6

128.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$2.97 ₹281

446.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$2.49 ₹235

27.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.3

$1.42 ₹134

86.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.70

$0.67 ₹63.6

82.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$0.98 ₹93.2

68.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.51 ₹48.59

203.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.21

$0.34 ₹32.32

291.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.46

$0.51 ₹48.38

137.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.06

$0.44 ₹41.99

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.40

$0.30 ₹28.36

90.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$3.92 ₹371

19.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿553

$8.55 ₹810

98.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.4

$1.74 ₹165

4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.32 ₹219

37.07%

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

$6.75 ₹640

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.48

$0.45 ₹42.91

102.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿610

$8.65 ₹819

116.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.84

$0.57 ₹53.6

147.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.56

$0.28 ₹26.22

378.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$1.99 ₹188

309.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.57

$1.25 ₹119

2.40%

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

$21.8K ฿710.0K

$8,733 ₹827.0K

149.93%

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

$22.4K ฿728.7K

$11.6K ₹1.1M

93.69%

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

$70.5 ฿2,293

$40.77 ₹3,860

72.87%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$2.80 ₹265

401.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$6.96 ₹659

153.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,343

$8.13 ₹769

407.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$7.20 ₹682

-6.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$3.87 ₹366

54.01%

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

$303 ฿9,855

$43.79 ₹4,147

591.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.6K

$1,579 ₹149.5K

847.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,779

$21.39 ₹2,026

155.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿855

$30.45 ₹2,883

-13.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,791

$26.63 ₹2,522

222.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,267

$27.23 ₹2,579

155.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$76.9 ₹7,282

456.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,777

$37.46 ₹3,548

538.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$173 ₹16.4K

368.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$116 ₹11.0K

338.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.9K

$379 ₹35.9K

433.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.9K

$248 ₹23.5K

505.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.3K

$613 ₹58.0K

1.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.75

-35.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Durgapur: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $76.9 in Durgapur. 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 2% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Durgapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $92.0 – making Durgapur 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 Durgapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Durgapur, 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $466 in Durgapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $43.79 in Durgapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 164% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $311 in Durgapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Durgapur costs $311 versus $848 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 Durgapur. 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.