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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $335 in Guntur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $584 in Guntur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $833 in Guntur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Guntur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Guntur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Guntur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.75 ₹167

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$11.80 ₹1,126

58.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.70 ₹448

67.23%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.02 ₹193

0.50%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.40 ₹37.69

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.16 ₹15.68

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.05 ₹195

4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.42 ₹326

7.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.79 ₹75.8

118.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.43 ₹40.92

265.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.64 ₹61.4

87.50%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.90 ₹86.1

118.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.40 ₹419

268.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.41 ₹325

-10.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.54 ₹147

79.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.70 ₹67.1

67.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.02 ₹97.4

67.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.45 ₹42.98

253.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.46 ₹44.10

202.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.44 ₹41.85

163.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.65 ₹61.9

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.31 ₹29.96

67.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.01 ₹287

54.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.14 ₹871

94.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.54 ₹146

16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.22 ₹212

50.45%

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

$6.65 ₹634

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.22 ₹20.95

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.61 ₹821

116.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.28 ₹26.34

403.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.16 ₹15.29

737.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.61 ₹154

403.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.20 ₹114

2.50%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$16.1K ₹1.5M

33.10%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$24.4K ₹2.3M

-10.62%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$22.56 ₹2,151

216.18%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.41 ₹325

310.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$7.63 ₹728

134.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$9.45 ₹901

331.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.45 ₹520

26.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$1.70 ₹162

236.47%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$114 ₹10.9K

169.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$2,638 ₹251.6K

456.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$17.51 ₹1,670

218.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$24.32 ₹2,319

7.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$40.52 ₹3,865

109.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$35.36 ₹3,372

100.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$87.3 ₹8,322

385.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$52.9 ₹5,044

358.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$263 ₹25.1K

202.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$200 ₹19.1K

153.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$894 ₹85.3K

114.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$517 ₹49.3K

183.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$843 ₹80.4K

-29.42%

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 Guntur: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $87.3 in Guntur. 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 42% higher in Guntur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Guntur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $106 – making Guntur 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 Guntur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Guntur, 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 $502 in Guntur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guntur, 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 $114 in Guntur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $335 in Guntur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guntur costs $335 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 Guntur. 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.