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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $590 in Goa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $910 in Goa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,230 in Goa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Goa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Goa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Goa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$3.39 ₹323

-39.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$15.53 ₹1,481

20.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.66 ₹540

38.87%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.32 ₹126

53.79%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.38 ₹36.25

110.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.21 ₹19.96

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.27 ₹121

68.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.22 ₹307

13.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.75 ₹71.2

130.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.56 ₹53.6

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.10 ₹105

9.09%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.91 ₹87.0

116.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.58 ₹627

146.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.13 ₹299

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.06 ₹196

34.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.97 ₹92.8

20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.70 ₹162

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.53 ₹50.4

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.42 ₹39.61

230.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.55 ₹52.9

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.60 ₹57.3

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.44 ₹41.87

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.41 ₹325

36.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.64 ₹634

167.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.94 ₹89.2

90.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.79 ₹171

86.59%

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

$4.40 ₹419

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.22 ₹20.88

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$17.18 ₹1,638

8.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.13 ₹108

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.37 ₹35.01

262.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.38 ₹227

240.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.19 ₹113

3.36%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

91.35%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$31.6K ₹3.0M

-30.98%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$24.81 ₹2,366

187.51%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.19 ₹304

339.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$10.64 ₹1,015

68.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$20.16 ₹1,922

102.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$4.22 ₹402

63.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.25 ₹310

76.00%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$123 ₹11.7K

150.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,909 ₹182.0K

669.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$32.76 ₹3,124

70.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$29.18 ₹2,783

-10.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$50.5 ₹4,816

67.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$23.57 ₹2,247

201.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$281 ₹26.8K

50.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$251 ₹24.0K

-3.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$474 ₹45.2K

68.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$438 ₹41.8K

15.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,121 ₹106.9K

71.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$694 ₹66.2K

111.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$343 ₹32.7K

73.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.47

-40.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Goa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $281 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 74% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Goa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $114 – 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 45% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $885 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $123 in Goa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 115% 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 $590 in Goa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Goa costs $590 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 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.