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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $322 in Gulbarga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $514 in Gulbarga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $706 in Gulbarga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Gulbarga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gulbarga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gulbarga 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.58 ₹151

25.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$8.15 ₹775

130.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.70 ₹257

187.04%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.14 ₹108

68.42%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.37 ₹35.38

113.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.15 ₹13.90

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.75 ₹166

26.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.69 ₹256

36.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.68 ₹65.1

142.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.34 ₹31.89

379.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.67 ₹64.2

77.61%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.86 ₹81.9

132.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$3.78 ₹359

322.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.81 ₹267

7.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.93 ₹184

43.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.50 ₹47.59

136.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.03 ₹98.0

59.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.38 ₹36.56

300.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.41 ₹38.72

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.44 ₹41.50

170.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.33 ₹31.29

112.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.31 ₹29.91

80.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.64 ₹346

25.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$3.45 ₹328

380.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.34 ₹127

36.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.01 ₹191

59.20%

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

$3.65 ₹347

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.30 ₹28.62

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.92 ₹849

109.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.52 ₹49.36

161.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.15 ₹14.38

793.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.59 ₹151

393.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.25 ₹119

-1.60%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$6,954 ₹661.3K

210.96%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$10.9K ₹1.0M

106.97%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$29.58 ₹2,813

138.47%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.67 ₹349

272.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.24 ₹784

111.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$7.20 ₹684

474.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.90 ₹561

17.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.39 ₹228

141.42%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$46.70 ₹4,441

557.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$730 ₹69.5K

1900.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$20.39 ₹1,939

173.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.20 ₹2,302

8.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$24.51 ₹2,331

249.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$21.77 ₹2,070

231.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$125 ₹11.9K

243.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$76.8 ₹7,305

210.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$275 ₹26.1K

197.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$179 ₹17.0K

185.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$573 ₹54.5K

246.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$414 ₹39.4K

258.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$368 ₹35.0K

68.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.19

-45.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Gulbarga: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Gulbarga. 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 68% 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 $8.00 in Gulbarga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $85.0 – making Gulbarga 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 Gulbarga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Gulbarga, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $483 in Gulbarga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gulbarga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.70 in Gulbarga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 183% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $322 in Gulbarga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gulbarga costs $322 versus $869 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 Gulbarga. 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.