Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jammu

For one person, living is cheaper in Jammu: $353 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 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
17

Cost of Living Index in Jammu
Learn more

Jammu Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Jammu

🇮🇳 India

$353

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $353 in Jammu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Jammu $353

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $574 in Jammu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Jammu $574

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $795 in Jammu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Jammu $795

Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Jammu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Jammu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Jammu 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$3.60 ₹342

-36.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$11.66 ₹1,107

68.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$3.77 ₹358

48.81%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.06 ₹101

56.60%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.33 ₹31.53

112.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.11 ₹10.74

181.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.54 ₹147

56.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$3.25 ₹308

14.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.67 ₹63.3

191.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.38 ₹35.75

271.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.83 ₹78.7

57.83%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$0.94 ₹89.7

131.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$3.96 ₹376

320.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$1.51 ₹144

82.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.12 ₹106

113.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$0.99 ₹94.0

4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.73 ₹69.6

123.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.53 ₹49.87

183.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.34 ₹32.33

279.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.51 ₹48.30

117.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.60 ₹56.7

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.29 ₹27.34

82.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$4.28 ₹407

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.79 ₹740

130.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.36 ₹129

16.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$3.19 ₹303

-10.97%

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

$2.85 ₹271

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.27 ₹25.85

218.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$3.23 ₹307

1549.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$1.53 ₹146

-20.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.25 ₹23.69

128.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.81 ₹171

29.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.11 ₹105

29.73%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$11.4K ₹1.1M

81.92%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$22.6K ₹2.1M

18.43%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$47.18 ₹4,480

32.11%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$3.21 ₹305

277.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$6.40 ₹608

211.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$13.65 ₹1,296

171.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$6.59 ₹625

-42.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$2.62 ₹249

148.09%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$36.62 ₹3,477

2064.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$1,077 ₹102.3K

1275.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$25.90 ₹2,459

107.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$31.86 ₹3,025

-22.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$41.61 ₹3,952

118.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$28.08 ₹2,667

153.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$93.5 ₹8,876

387.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$53.5 ₹5,076

457.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$245 ₹23.3K

270.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$160 ₹15.2K

245.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$969 ₹92.0K

99.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$534 ₹50.7K

170.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$490 ₹46.6K

20.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.75

-52.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Jammu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Jammu

$53 15.1% 82.1% $244

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Jammu

$91 25.7% 61.5% $145

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Jammu

$57 16.2% 47% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Jammu

$57 16.1% 39.8% $38

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Jammu

$69 19.5% 12.5% $9.8

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Jammu

$7.1 2% 88.3% $54

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Jammu

$19 5.4% 62.3% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $93.5 in Jammu. 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 21% 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 $12.00 in Jammu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $91.0 – making Jammu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Jammu

🕒 Local time

23:11 11:11 PM

21:41 9:41 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

502,197

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.53 USD

1,000 INR = 9.37 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Jammu 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Jammu

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 Jammu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Jammu, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $530 in Jammu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.62 in Jammu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 160% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jammu, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Jammu 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. Jammu costs $353 versus $925 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 Jammu. 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.