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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $524 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $855 in Hyderabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,187 in Hyderabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Hyderabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Hyderabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Hyderabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.52 ₹337

-44.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$17.38 ₹1,664

7.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.22 ₹500

49.81%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.03 ₹194

-3.94%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.42 ₹39.78

102.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.19 ₹18.20

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.05 ₹196

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.41 ₹326

9.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.82 ₹78.9

108.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.62 ₹59.3

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.76 ₹73.1

50.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.98 ₹94.1

96.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.21 ₹595

161.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.81 ₹365

-18.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.80 ₹268

-1.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.76 ₹72.4

59.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.03 ₹98.8

57.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.51 ₹48.46

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.46 ₹44.36

204.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.52 ₹50.3

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.66 ₹63.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.37 ₹35.19

43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.19 ₹401

11.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.46 ₹811

120.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.02 ₹193

-10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.96 ₹283

9.12%

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

$6.42 ₹615

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.60 ₹57.3

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$15.39 ₹1,474

24.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.17 ₹112

20.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.33 ₹31.58

290.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.56 ₹149

402.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.29 ₹123

-1.55%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.3K ₹1.7M

23.00%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.2K ₹2.3M

-8.30%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$39.20 ₹3,754

76.20%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.42 ₹424

218.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.41 ₹806

114.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$21.22 ₹2,032

93.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.93 ₹759

-12.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.98 ₹381

48.74%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$116 ₹11.1K

158.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,589 ₹248.0K

477.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$30.68 ₹2,939

78.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.17 ₹2,315

10.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$49.28 ₹4,720

72.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$37.37 ₹3,579

88.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$239 ₹22.9K

79.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$137 ₹13.1K

73.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$627 ₹60.1K

27.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$336 ₹32.2K

53.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,364 ₹130.6K

44.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$753 ₹72.2K

95.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,182 ₹113.2K

-47.74%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hyderabad: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $239 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 91% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Hyderabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $127 – 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 65% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $786 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $524 in Hyderabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hyderabad costs $524 versus $866 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.