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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $341 in Guntur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $583 in Guntur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $825 in Guntur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 148% 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 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$1.69 ₹161

15.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$11.69 ₹1,107

57.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$4.77 ₹452

64.99%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.5

$1.92 ₹182

1.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.59

$0.36 ₹34.36

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.53

$0.15 ₹14.50

113.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.7

$2.13 ₹202

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$3.43 ₹325

7.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.0

$0.80 ₹75.9

107.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.43 ₹40.40

262.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.66

$0.65 ₹61.6

83.08%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.8

$0.88 ₹83.6

126.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$4.35 ₹412

273.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$3.30 ₹312

-3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.3

$1.59 ₹150

66.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.70

$0.71 ₹67.0

71.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.02 ₹97.1

61.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.45 ₹42.89

244.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.21

$0.50 ₹47.58

166.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.46

$0.41 ₹38.36

195.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.06

$0.65 ₹61.2

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.40

$0.31 ₹29.74

83.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$3.09 ₹293

51.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿553

$8.62 ₹816

97.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.4

$1.47 ₹139

23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.27 ₹215

40.09%

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

$6.58 ₹623

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.48

$0.22 ₹20.71

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿610

$8.64 ₹818

116.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.84

$0.30 ₹28.42

370.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.56

$0.15 ₹14.48

793.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$1.62 ₹153

402.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.57

$1.19 ₹112

7.56%

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

$21.8K ฿710.0K

$16.2K ₹1.5M

34.54%

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

$22.4K ฿728.7K

$24.0K ₹2.3M

-6.62%

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

$70.5 ฿2,293

$23.31 ₹2,207

202.36%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$3.37 ₹319

316.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$7.46 ₹706

136.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,343

$9.28 ₹879

344.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$5.41 ₹513

24.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$1.75 ₹166

240.57%

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

$303 ฿9,855

$117 ₹11.1K

158.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.6K

$2,583 ₹244.6K

479.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,779

$17.50 ₹1,657

212.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿855

$24.27 ₹2,298

8.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,791

$40.45 ₹3,831

112.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,267

$34.62 ₹3,278

101.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$86.2 ₹8,159

397.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,777

$53.0 ₹5,023

350.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$264 ₹25.0K

207.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$201 ₹19.0K

153.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.9K

$907 ₹85.9K

123.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.9K

$519 ₹49.1K

189.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.3K

$867 ₹82.1K

-28.23%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Guntur: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $86.2 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 39% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Guntur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $104 – 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 148% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $512 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $117 in Guntur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $341 in Guntur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guntur costs $341 versus $848 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.