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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $485 in Goa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $797 in Goa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,110 in Goa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than Goa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Goa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Goa 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$3.18 ₹305

-34.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$15.89 ₹1,524

23.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.84 ₹559

-2.91%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.22 ₹117

48.36%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.39 ₹36.95

97.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.17 ₹16.12

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.14 ₹109

93.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.56 ₹246

48.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.75 ₹71.5

173.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.50 ₹47.78

202.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.73 ₹69.7

91.78%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$0.90 ₹86.5

151.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.40 ₹709

118.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.97 ₹284

-2.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.75 ₹168

53.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$0.82 ₹78.3

32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.60 ₹154

1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.41 ₹39.32

256.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.30 ₹28.46

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.40 ₹38.72

165.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.53 ₹50.8

35.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.30 ₹28.86

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.99 ₹479

-15.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.90 ₹662

165.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.89 ₹85.6

83.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.77 ₹265

4.69%

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

$4.78 ₹458

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.25 ₹23.90

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$9.73 ₹933

452.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.03 ₹98.6

13.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.31 ₹29.36

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$1.48 ₹142

61.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.04 ₹100

39.42%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$12.5K ₹1.2M

68.72%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$29.2K ₹2.8M

-9.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$25.76 ₹2,470

147.09%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.08 ₹295

318.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$9.44 ₹905

117.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$16.75 ₹1,606

132.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$1.06 ₹102

269.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.06 ₹293

115.03%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$109 ₹10.5K

618.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,729 ₹165.8K

748.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$31.66 ₹3,036

74.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$34.22 ₹3,281

-27.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$57.5 ₹5,515

63.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$28.38 ₹2,721

160.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$181 ₹17.4K

170.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$164 ₹15.8K

75.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$511 ₹49.0K

74.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$396 ₹38.0K

31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,125 ₹107.8K

75.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$677 ₹64.9K

113.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$340 ₹32.6K

76.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.12

-38.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Goa: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $181 in Goa. 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 77% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Goa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $109 – making Goa 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 Goa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than Goa, 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 $727 in Goa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Goa, 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 $109 in Goa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 120% 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 Goa, where all-in costs run around $485, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Goa 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. Goa costs $485 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 Goa. 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.