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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $292 in Durgapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $464 in Durgapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $636 in Durgapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 219% more than Durgapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Durgapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Durgapur 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.15 ₹206

-3.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.38 ₹995

88.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.08 ₹391

38.97%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.60 ₹153

13.12%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.37 ₹35.19

108.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.16 ₹15.09

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.01 ₹97.2

118.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.06 ₹198

83.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.53 ₹50.9

286.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.36 ₹34.32

319.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.48 ₹45.62

191.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.93 ₹88.9

143.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$2.68 ₹257

504.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.14 ₹205

35.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.22 ₹117

119.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.61 ₹58.9

78.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.89 ₹85.1

82.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.60 ₹57.5

143.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.21 ₹20.14

509.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.38 ₹36.57

178.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.32 ₹30.82

125.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.28 ₹26.93

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.12 ₹491

-17.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.18 ₹977

79.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.65 ₹159

-1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.07 ₹199

40.10%

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

$5.76 ₹552

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.44 ₹42.21

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$5.16 ₹495

942.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.64 ₹61.5

82.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.09 ₹8.78

544.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.61 ₹155

48.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.11 ₹106

30.63%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$7,961 ₹763.7K

163.94%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$10.3K ₹990.8K

155.87%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$39.40 ₹3,780

61.55%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$2.53 ₹243

409.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$5.17 ₹496

296.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$8.56 ₹821

355.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.37 ₹324

95.25%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$39.88 ₹3,826

1865.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,557 ₹149.4K

842.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$19.00 ₹1,823

190.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$21.90 ₹2,101

12.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$23.21 ₹2,227

305.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$20.38 ₹1,956

262.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$69.0 ₹6,615

611.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$33.69 ₹3,232

755.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$154 ₹14.8K

477.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$103 ₹9,865

406.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$374 ₹35.9K

427.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$247 ₹23.7K

483.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$705 ₹67.6K

-14.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.27

-39.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Durgapur: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 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 17% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Durgapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $88.0 – 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 219% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $438 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $39.88 in Durgapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 173% 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 Durgapur, where all-in costs run around $292, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Durgapur 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. Durgapur costs $292 versus $932 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.