Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Hyderabad

For one person, living is cheaper in Hyderabad: $491 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Hyderabad
Learn more

Hyderabad Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Hyderabad

🇮🇳 India

$491

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $491 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Hyderabad $491

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $809 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Hyderabad $809

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Hyderabad $1,127

Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Hyderabad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Hyderabad 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$2.58 ₹246

-13.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$15.95 ₹1,517

19.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$5.10 ₹485

8.82%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$2.27 ₹216

-26.43%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.45 ₹42.51

42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.15 ₹14.11

106.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.12 ₹201

11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$4.29 ₹408

-14.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.83 ₹79.1

134.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.58 ₹55.6

148.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$0.70 ₹66.2

90.00%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$0.99 ₹94.4

130.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$7.10 ₹675

131.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$3.38 ₹322

-17.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$2.34 ₹222

0.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$0.68 ₹65.1

42.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.14 ₹109

40.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$0.44 ₹42.12

240.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.43 ₹40.42

197.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.39 ₹37.53

182.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$0.51 ₹48.73

39.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.32 ₹30.87

53.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$5.18 ₹493

-20.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$8.37 ₹796

109.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.82 ₹173

-11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.72 ₹259

2.21%

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

$6.16 ₹585

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.54 ₹51.5

61.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$14.95 ₹1,421

261.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$0.92 ₹87.1

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.55 ₹52.2

-3.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.19 ₹113

103.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.12 ₹106

29.46%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$11.4K ₹1.1M

84.98%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$22.7K ₹2.2M

18.86%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$35.06 ₹3,335

77.32%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$4.30 ₹409

183.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$7.89 ₹750

155.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$24.12 ₹2,294

54.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$7.43 ₹707

-49.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$3.07 ₹292

111.40%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$145 ₹13.8K

406.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$2,836 ₹269.7K

420.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$21.57 ₹2,052

147.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$21.03 ₹2,000

17.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$42.00 ₹3,994

117.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$34.78 ₹3,308

106.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$231 ₹22.0K

108.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$133 ₹12.7K

132.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$624 ₹59.4K

61.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$339 ₹32.3K

86.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,354 ₹128.8K

74.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$776 ₹73.8K

104.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,260 ₹119.8K

-53.20%

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 Hyderabad: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Hyderabad

$133 27.1% 56.9% $176

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Hyderabad

$121 24.7% 48.4% $113

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Hyderabad

$54 10.9% 50.6% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Hyderabad

$47 9.6% 50% $47

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Hyderabad

$85 17.3% 9.3% $7.2

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Hyderabad

$21 4.2% 66.2% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Hyderabad

$30 6.2% 39.8% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $231 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 in Hyderabad are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $16 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $121 – making Hyderabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Hyderabad

🕒 Local time

18:07 6:07 PM

16:37 4:37 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

6,809,970

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.51 USD

1,000 INR = 9.45 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.1 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.45 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Hyderabad 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Hyderabad

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 Hyderabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 91% more than Hyderabad, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $736 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $231 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Hyderabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 94% 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 $800 monthly budget goes further in Hyderabad, where all-in costs run around $491, than in Chiang Mai at $936. 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 $491 versus $936 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

For expats, Hyderabad is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 91% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.