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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $417 in Indore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $676 in Indore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $935 in Indore, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Indore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Indore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Indore 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.60 ₹249

-25.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.60 ₹1,110

60.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.41 ₹326

129.33%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.48 ₹142

31.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.46 ₹43.75

84.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.18 ₹17.37

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.73 ₹165

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.18 ₹304

17.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.72 ₹68.7

137.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.47 ₹45.20

246.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.77 ₹73.6

48.05%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.08 ₹104

78.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.54 ₹530

192.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.73 ₹261

14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.93 ₹185

42.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.61 ₹58.0

98.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.03 ₹98.3

57.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.59 ₹56.4

169.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.36 ₹34.93

288.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.43 ₹40.69

172.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.51 ₹48.62

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.33 ₹32.03

60.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.56 ₹437

2.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.73 ₹739

141.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.19 ₹209

-17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.89 ₹372

-16.97%

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

$4.34 ₹415

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.24 ₹23.09

275.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$5.93 ₹567

223.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.55 ₹52.8

156.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.22 ₹21.01

486.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.41 ₹135

456.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.20 ₹115

5.83%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$11.5K ₹1.1M

84.80%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$16.8K ₹1.6M

31.96%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$32.56 ₹3,116

112.13%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.62 ₹346

288.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.72 ₹834

106.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$19.77 ₹1,892

107.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.72 ₹643

3.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.46 ₹331

71.10%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$52.1 ₹4,981

474.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,593 ₹152.5K

838.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$21.04 ₹2,013

159.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$26.68 ₹2,553

0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$57.2 ₹5,474

48.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$36.12 ₹3,456

95.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$160 ₹15.3K

167.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$97.4 ₹9,323

143.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$392 ₹37.5K

104.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$227 ₹21.7K

127.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,315 ₹125.8K

50.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$554 ₹53.0K

166.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$344 ₹32.9K

79.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.21

-45.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Indore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $160 in Indore. 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 80% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Indore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $112 – making Indore 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 Indore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Indore, 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 $626 in Indore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Indore, 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 $52.1 in Indore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 120% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $417 in Indore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Indore costs $417 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 Indore. 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.