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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $520 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $856 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,191 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Hyderabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$3.39 ₹326

-42.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$17.77 ₹1,711

3.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.29 ₹509

41.40%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.00 ₹192

1.00%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.42 ₹40.20

102.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.18 ₹17.16

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.13 ₹205

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.45 ₹332

4.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.86 ₹83.2

91.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.56 ₹54.4

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.71 ₹68.8

67.61%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.03 ₹99.6

88.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.33 ₹610

155.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.89 ₹375

-23.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.77 ₹267

-2.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.72 ₹69.2

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.03 ₹99.4

64.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.47 ₹45.55

240.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.46 ₹44.07

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.52 ₹49.79

130.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.71 ₹68.1

-5.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.33 ₹32.19

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.19 ₹403

10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.00 ₹867

95.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.98 ₹190

-6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.96 ₹285

11.49%

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

$6.65 ₹641

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.59 ₹57.1

49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$14.83 ₹1,428

30.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.13 ₹109

20.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.35 ₹34.16

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.61 ₹155

409.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.29 ₹124

-5.43%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$17.4K ₹1.7M

22.61%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$24.5K ₹2.4M

-7.97%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$39.58 ₹3,811

78.55%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.51 ₹435

211.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$8.45 ₹813

106.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$21.27 ₹2,048

98.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.68 ₹739

-10.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.15 ₹399

42.65%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$114 ₹10.9K

171.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$2,568 ₹247.2K

479.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$30.43 ₹2,930

83.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$24.00 ₹2,310

8.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$47.58 ₹4,580

74.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$37.43 ₹3,603

88.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$234 ₹22.6K

84.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$138 ₹13.3K

73.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$629 ₹60.6K

30.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$331 ₹31.9K

54.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,384 ₹133.2K

38.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$772 ₹74.3K

90.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,252 ₹120.5K

-53.73%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $234 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 116% higher in Hyderabad, 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 $18.00 in Hyderabad. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $127 in Hyderabad – so Hyderabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 66% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $780 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $114 in Hyderabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $520 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hyderabad costs $520 versus $861 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.