Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gulbarga

For one person, living is cheaper in Gulbarga: $288 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
14

Cost of Living Index in Gulbarga
Learn more

Gulbarga Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Gulbarga

🇮🇳 India

$288

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $288 in Gulbarga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Gulbarga $288

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $470 in Gulbarga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Gulbarga $470

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $652 in Gulbarga, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Gulbarga $652

Chiang Mai costs about 225% more than Gulbarga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Gulbarga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gulbarga 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$1.57 ₹149

42.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$10.70 ₹1,016

77.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$2.65 ₹252

109.43%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.07 ₹102

56.07%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.36 ₹34.61

77.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.14 ₹13.74

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.72 ₹163

37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.51 ₹238

45.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.66 ₹63.1

195.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.32 ₹30.23

350.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$0.59 ₹55.8

125.42%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$0.81 ₹77.3

181.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$3.65 ₹346

350.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$2.69 ₹255

3.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.87 ₹178

25.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$0.42 ₹40.28

130.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.06 ₹100

50.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.36 ₹33.73

316.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.42 ₹39.40

204.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$0.39 ₹37.40

182.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.34 ₹32.55

108.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.26 ₹24.37

88.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.59 ₹340

15.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$3.37 ₹320

419.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.29 ₹123

24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.94 ₹184

43.30%

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

$3.38 ₹321

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.28 ₹26.75

210.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$7.68 ₹729

604.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$0.48 ₹45.17

141.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.16 ₹15.03

231.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.14 ₹109

112.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.12 ₹107

29.46%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$6,670 ₹633.3K

215.71%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$10.3K ₹978.4K

161.44%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$28.28 ₹2,685

119.84%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$3.31 ₹314

267.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$8.14 ₹772

147.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$7.02 ₹667

431.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$5.21 ₹494

-27.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.31 ₹219

180.95%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$45.91 ₹4,359

1503.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$652 ₹61.9K

2165.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$20.01 ₹1,899

166.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$20.80 ₹1,974

18.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$22.91 ₹2,175

299.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$21.42 ₹2,033

235.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$84.6 ₹8,035

469.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$58.1 ₹5,515

431.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$200 ₹19.0K

401.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$146 ₹13.9K

333.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$575 ₹54.6K

311.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$404 ₹38.3K

293.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$370 ₹35.2K

59.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.55

-34.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Gulbarga: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Gulbarga

$58 20.2% 81.2% $251

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Gulbarga

$81 28.2% 65.3% $153

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Gulbarga

$38 13.3% 64.7% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Gulbarga

$40 13.8% 58% $55

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Gulbarga

$49 17% 36.7% $29

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Gulbarga

$10 3.5% 83.6% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Gulbarga

$12 4% 76.9% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $85 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 59% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Gulbarga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $81 – making Gulbarga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Gulbarga

🕒 Local time

17:41 5:41 PM

16:11 4:11 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

400,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.53 USD

1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.94 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Gulbarga 2,350 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Gulbarga

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 Gulbarga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 225% more than Gulbarga, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $432 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $85 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $46 in Gulbarga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 188% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Gulbarga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Gulbarga. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.