Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Guntur

For one person, living is cheaper in Guntur: $331 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Guntur, India
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Guntur
🇮🇳 India
$331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $331 in Guntur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Guntur $331

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $552 in Guntur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Guntur $552

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $773 in Guntur, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Guntur $773

Chiang Mai costs about 183% more than Guntur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Guntur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Guntur 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$1.56 ₹148
43.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$10.40 ₹988
82.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$4.47 ₹424
24.16%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.95 ₹185
-14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.40 ₹38.09
60.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.17 ₹16.61
82.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$2.04 ₹194
15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$3.26 ₹310
12.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$0.85 ₹80.6
129.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.45 ₹42.52
220.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.57 ₹54.5
133.33%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$0.93 ₹88.3
145.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$3.99 ₹379
312.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$3.19 ₹303
-12.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.43 ₹136
64.34%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$0.69 ₹65.1
40.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$0.99 ₹94.4
61.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.44 ₹41.63
240.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.42 ₹40.34
204.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.39 ₹37.24
182.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.49 ₹46.05
44.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.30 ₹28.37
63.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$5.12 ₹487
-19.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$8.39 ₹796
108.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.40 ₹132
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.01 ₹191
38.31%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.23 ₹402
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.23 ₹21.87
278.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$8.46 ₹803
539.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$0.27 ₹25.77
329.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.12 ₹11.71
341.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$1.18 ₹112
105.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.10 ₹104
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$11.8K ₹1.1M
78.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$22.2K ₹2.1M
21.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$22.01 ₹2,089
182.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$3.40 ₹323
257.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$4.99 ₹474
303.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$11.54 ₹1,095
223.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$3.14 ₹298
20.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$1.79 ₹170
262.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$148 ₹14.0K
398.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$2,765 ₹262.5K
433.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$15.99 ₹1,518
233.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$21.00 ₹1,994
17.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$36.35 ₹3,451
151.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$31.78 ₹3,017
126.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$93.0 ₹8,833
418.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$60.0 ₹5,691
415.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$238 ₹22.6K
323.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$183 ₹17.3K
246.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$769 ₹73.0K
207.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$482 ₹45.8K
229.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Guntur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$746 ₹70.8K
-20.94%
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 Guntur: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Guntur
$60 80.6% $249
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Guntur
$100 57.5% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Guntur
$47 56.5% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Guntur
$30 67.8% $64
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Guntur
$68 11.9% $9.2
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Guntur
$10 83.3% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Guntur
$15 69.9% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $93 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 26% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Guntur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $100 – making Guntur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Guntur
🕒 Local time
10:49 10:49 AM
09:19 9:19 AM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
647,508
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 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 = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Guntur 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Guntur

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 Guntur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Guntur?
Chiang Mai costs about 183% more than Guntur, 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 Guntur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $497 in Guntur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Guntur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guntur, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $93 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Guntur?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $148 in Guntur. 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 Guntur?
Groceries cost about 135% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Guntur?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $331 in Guntur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Guntur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Guntur is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 65% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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