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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $313 in Durgapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $519 in Durgapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.36 ₹225

-13.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$11.60 ₹1,106

61.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.69 ₹352

113.01%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.41 ₹135

43.97%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.41 ₹38.71

95.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.14 ₹13.76

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.38 ₹131

55.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.24 ₹214

63.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.58 ₹55.6

198.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.38 ₹36.39

313.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.47 ₹45.17

155.32%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.87 ₹83.0

126.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$2.93 ₹280

453.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.41 ₹230

26.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.42 ₹136

95.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.72 ₹68.8

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.99 ₹94.0

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.51 ₹48.80

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.32 ₹30.47

334.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.51 ₹48.88

127.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.41 ₹39.56

60.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.32 ₹30.63

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.88 ₹370

19.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.02 ₹860

97.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.71 ₹163

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.26 ₹216

47.79%

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

$6.71 ₹640

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.46 ₹43.40

97.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.74 ₹833

113.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.57 ₹54.1

147.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.30 ₹28.64

346.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.02 ₹192

301.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.24 ₹118

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$8,766 ₹836.0K

144.54%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$11.7K ₹1.1M

85.84%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$41.00 ₹3,910

73.98%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$2.71 ₹258

416.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$7.01 ₹669

155.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$8.48 ₹808

381.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.91 ₹659

-0.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.72 ₹355

53.76%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$43.81 ₹4,178

603.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,579 ₹150.5K

829.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$20.92 ₹1,995

166.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$30.51 ₹2,910

-14.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$26.41 ₹2,519

221.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$26.84 ₹2,560

164.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$75.3 ₹7,184

461.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$38.11 ₹3,635

536.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$174 ₹16.6K

357.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$115 ₹10.9K

341.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$376 ₹35.9K

409.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$249 ₹23.8K

486.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$618 ₹58.9K

-3.72%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Durgapur: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $75.3 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 4% higher in Durgapur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Durgapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $469 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $43.81 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $313 in Durgapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Durgapur costs $313 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 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.