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 $336 in Guntur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $590 in Guntur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $844 in Guntur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 154% 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

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.77 ₹168

10.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$11.77 ₹1,118

59.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.55 ₹432

74.07%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.95 ₹185

-2.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.40 ₹37.60

110.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.15 ₹14.33

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.07 ₹196

6.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.43 ₹325

10.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.86 ₹81.3

90.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.45 ₹42.73

260.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.61 ₹57.6

93.44%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.83 ₹79.3

142.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.49 ₹427

253.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.30 ₹313

-8.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.57 ₹149

66.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.75 ₹71.6

62.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.07 ₹101

58.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.45 ₹43.09

251.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.46 ₹44.02

186.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.41 ₹38.62

185.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.66 ₹62.9

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.34 ₹32.49

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.05 ₹289

48.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.65 ₹821

110.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.54 ₹146

18.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.19 ₹208

47.49%

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

$6.36 ₹604

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.24 ₹22.87

270.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.56 ₹813

126.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.30 ₹28.72

350.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.12 ₹11.32

1025.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.55 ₹147

432.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.23 ₹117

3.25%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$16.6K ₹1.6M

27.42%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$24.5K ₹2.3M

-8.31%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$23.09 ₹2,192

203.81%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.45 ₹328

299.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.39 ₹702

138.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$9.04 ₹858

359.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.58 ₹530

18.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$1.76 ₹167

228.41%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$115 ₹11.0K

165.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,604 ₹247.3K

469.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$18.01 ₹1,710

201.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$24.55 ₹2,330

6.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$40.49 ₹3,845

108.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$34.40 ₹3,266

101.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$86.0 ₹8,166

392.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$52.4 ₹4,973

354.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$265 ₹25.1K

211.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$204 ₹19.4K

152.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$901 ₹85.6K

127.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$526 ₹50.0K

189.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$734 ₹69.7K

-13.50%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Guntur: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $86.0 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 16% 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: $243 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 154% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $503 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Guntur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 129% 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 $336 in Guntur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guntur costs $336 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.