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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $317 in Gulbarga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $502 in Gulbarga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Gulbarga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Gulbarga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gulbarga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gulbarga 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.57 ₹150

29.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$8.13 ₹776

130.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$2.63 ₹251

198.86%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.13 ₹107

79.65%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.37 ₹35.38

116.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.18 ₹16.92

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.71 ₹163

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.67 ₹254

37.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.71 ₹67.8

143.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.37 ₹34.94

324.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.68 ₹65.0

76.47%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.86 ₹82.1

129.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$3.73 ₹355

335.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.88 ₹275

6.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.93 ₹184

43.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.47 ₹44.64

148.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.09 ₹104

56.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.39 ₹36.95

307.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.40 ₹38.25

247.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.43 ₹41.16

169.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.32 ₹30.83

106.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.31 ₹29.97

67.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.82 ₹364

21.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$3.45 ₹329

415.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.34 ₹127

33.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.99 ₹190

67.84%

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

$3.70 ₹353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.28 ₹26.68

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.65 ₹825

115.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.51 ₹49.03

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.16 ₹15.65

737.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.60 ₹153

406.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.29 ₹123

-4.65%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$6,947 ₹662.5K

208.56%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$10.5K ₹1.0M

106.93%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$30.34 ₹2,893

135.10%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.61 ₹344

288.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$8.50 ₹811

110.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$7.47 ₹713

446.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.85 ₹558

17.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.40 ₹229

138.33%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$46.71 ₹4,455

560.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$715 ₹68.2K

1953.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$20.04 ₹1,911

178.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$24.30 ₹2,318

7.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$24.38 ₹2,326

247.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$22.22 ₹2,119

219.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$123 ₹11.8K

243.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$75.2 ₹7,170

222.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$273 ₹26.0K

192.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$177 ₹16.9K

185.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$587 ₹55.9K

227.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$410 ₹39.1K

256.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$366 ₹34.9K

62.53%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gulbarga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 63% 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: $244 vs $86.0 – 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 169% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $475 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $46.71 in Gulbarga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 184% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $317 in Gulbarga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gulbarga costs $317 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 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.