Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ernakulam

For one person, living is cheaper in Ernakulam: $393 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
19

Cost of Living Index in Ernakulam
Learn more

Ernakulam Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Ernakulam

🇮🇳 India

$393

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Ernakulam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Ernakulam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $393 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Ernakulam $393

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $651 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Ernakulam $651

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $909 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Ernakulam $909

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Ernakulam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Ernakulam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ernakulam 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$1.70 ₹162

31.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$8.18 ₹779

132.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$3.65 ₹347

52.05%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$1.29 ₹123

29.46%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.39 ₹37.58

64.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.12 ₹11.55

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.62 ₹154

45.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.12 ₹202

72.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.63 ₹60.2

209.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.50 ₹47.41

188.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$0.63 ₹59.6

111.11%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$0.90 ₹86.1

153.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$5.52 ₹526

198.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.82 ₹268

-1.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$2.25 ₹214

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$0.70 ₹66.3

38.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.06 ₹101

50.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$0.45 ₹43.14

233.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.38 ₹36.21

236.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.50 ₹47.43

120.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$0.56 ₹53.6

26.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.29 ₹27.40

68.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.52 ₹431

-8.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$5.37 ₹512

226.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.69 ₹161

-4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.50 ₹239

11.20%

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

$5.07 ₹483

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.10 ₹9.20

770.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$6.24 ₹595

766.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$1.33 ₹126

-12.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.33 ₹31.72

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.34 ₹128

80.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.09 ₹104

33.03%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$11.1K ₹1.1M

89.68%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$27.1K ₹2.6M

-0.52%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$32.90 ₹3,133

88.97%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$3.28 ₹312

271.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$6.63 ₹631

203.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$12.20 ₹1,162

205.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$9.04 ₹861

-58.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.16 ₹206

200.46%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$56.8 ₹5,407

1196.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$2,068 ₹196.9K

613.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$21.73 ₹2,069

145.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$17.36 ₹1,653

41.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$36.23 ₹3,450

152.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$27.47 ₹2,615

161.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$226 ₹21.5K

113.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$121 ₹11.5K

155.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$415 ₹39.5K

142.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$330 ₹31.4K

91.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,084 ₹103.2K

118.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,184 ₹112.7K

34.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$349 ₹33.3K

68.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.5

-41.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ernakulam: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Ernakulam

$121 30.8% 60.9% $188

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Ernakulam

$102 26% 56.5% $132

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Ernakulam

$46 11.8% 57.4% $62

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Ernakulam

$43 10.9% 54.7% $52

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Ernakulam

$54 13.9% 29.8% $23

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Ernakulam

$9.6 2.5% 84.3% $52

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Ernakulam

$17 4.2% 67.1% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $226 in Ernakulam. 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 69% 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Ernakulam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $102 – making Ernakulam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Ernakulam

🕒 Local time

05:22 5:22 AM

03:52 3:52 AM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

612,343

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.5 USD

1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Ernakulam 2,630 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ernakulam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ernakulam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Ernakulam, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $589 in Ernakulam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ernakulam, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $226 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $57 in Ernakulam. 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 the gap depends on what you buy.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ernakulam costs $393 versus $936 in Chiang Mai. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Ernakulam. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.