Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gorakhpur

For one person, living is cheaper in Gorakhpur: $283 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Gorakhpur
🇮🇳 India
$283
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Gorakhpur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $283 in Gorakhpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Gorakhpur $283

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $462 in Gorakhpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Gorakhpur $462

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $641 in Gorakhpur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Gorakhpur $641

Chiang Mai costs about 232% more than Gorakhpur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Gorakhpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Gorakhpur 79% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$2.10 ₹200
7.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$9.67 ₹919
98.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$3.12 ₹296
79.17%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$0.94 ₹88.9
82.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$0.39 ₹36.85
64.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$0.14 ₹13.69
135.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$1.38 ₹131
71.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$2.24 ₹213
74.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$0.63 ₹59.5
225.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.36 ₹34.61
288.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$0.58 ₹54.8
120.69%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$0.96 ₹90.9
134.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$3.18 ₹302
432.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$2.19 ₹208
25.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$1.21 ₹115
98.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$0.68 ₹64.9
48.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$0.98 ₹92.6
64.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$0.41 ₹39.41
270.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.31 ₹29.81
312.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.34 ₹32.33
226.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$0.43 ₹40.82
67.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.29 ₹27.73
79.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$5.16 ₹490
-16.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$6.34 ₹602
179.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.63 ₹155
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$2.07 ₹197
37.68%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.84 ₹650
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.39 ₹36.66
117.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$10.42 ₹989
417.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$1.29 ₹123
-9.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.11 ₹10.61
418.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$2.08 ₹197
13.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$1.10 ₹104
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$13.8K ₹1.3M
47.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$26.9K ₹2.6M
-1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$16.77 ₹1,592
271.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$2.87 ₹273
327.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$6.34 ₹602
214.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$10.53 ₹999
260.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$1.66 ₹158
304.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$23.61 ₹2,242
3276.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$764 ₹72.5K
1842.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$18.56 ₹1,763
186.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$12.55 ₹1,192
99.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$25.89 ₹2,459
253.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$12.43 ₹1,180
490.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$84.7 ₹8,042
447.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$62.6 ₹5,947
386.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$167 ₹15.9K
447.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$158 ₹15.0K
248.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$674 ₹64.0K
183.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$618 ₹58.6K
132.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gorakhpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$387 ₹36.7K
53.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Gorakhpur: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Gorakhpur
$63 79.4% $242
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Gorakhpur
$84 64.5% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Gorakhpur
$31 71.5% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Gorakhpur
$26 72.5% $69
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Gorakhpur
$51 35.6% $28
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Gorakhpur
$14 77.5% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Gorakhpur
$14 73% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $84.7 in Gorakhpur. 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 54% 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 $10.00 in Gorakhpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $84.0 – making Gorakhpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Gorakhpur
🕒 Local time
23:17 11:17 PM
21:47 9:47 PM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
671,048
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Gorakhpur 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Gorakhpur

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 Gorakhpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Gorakhpur?
Chiang Mai costs about 232% more than Gorakhpur, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Gorakhpur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $424 in Gorakhpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Gorakhpur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gorakhpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Gorakhpur?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $23.61 in Gorakhpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Gorakhpur?
Groceries cost about 182% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Gorakhpur?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gorakhpur, where all-in costs run around $283, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Gorakhpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Gorakhpur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gorakhpur costs $283 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Gorakhpur?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Gorakhpur?
If budget matters most, go with Gorakhpur. 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.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?