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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $437 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $923 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 113% more than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Hyderabad 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.68 PKR 465

23.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$10.76 PKR 2,982

82.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.22 PKR 1,170

34.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 PKR 588

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 PKR 1,624

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.04 PKR 287

74.04%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.38 PKR 104

102.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.24 PKR 66.7

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.81 PKR 225

153.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.56 PKR 155

169.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.19 PKR 331

17.65%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.27 PKR 351

77.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.44 PKR 1,229

264.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.11 PKR 862

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.13 PKR 1,143

128.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.02 PKR 282

162.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.41 PKR 113

165.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.68 PKR 190

138.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.44 PKR 121

231.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.32 PKR 87.7

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.33 PKR 92.3

221.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.39 PKR 109

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.40 PKR 111

32.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 PKR 254

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 PKR 315

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.82 PKR 504

132.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.20 PKR 56.1

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.15 PKR 2,811

429.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.61 PKR 170

91.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.18 PKR 50.3

222.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$0.75 PKR 206

218.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.16 PKR 322

25.00%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

18.03%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

2.03%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$109 PKR 30.3K

-41.73%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.37 PKR 1,488

140.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$13.32 PKR 3,690

54.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$23.13 PKR 6,407

68.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$3.65 PKR 1,010

7.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.68 PKR 1,019

78.80%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

1456.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,338 PKR 370.6K

996.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$15.62 PKR 4,327

252.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$21.81 PKR 6,042

13.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$69.3 PKR 19.2K

35.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$37.71 PKR 10.4K

96.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$133 PKR 36.8K

268.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$75.8 PKR 21.0K

280.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$311 PKR 86.1K

186.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$210 PKR 58.1K

148.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$771 PKR 213.5K

156.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$158 PKR 43.7K

281.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.88

-56.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $133 in Hyderabad. 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 282% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $85.0 – making Hyderabad 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 Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 113% more than Hyderabad, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $655 in Hyderabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hyderabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.4 in Hyderabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 182% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hyderabad, where all-in costs run around $437, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Hyderabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hyderabad costs $437 versus $932 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 Hyderabad. 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.