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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $390 in Kadapa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $572 in Kadapa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $754 in Kadapa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Kadapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kadapa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kadapa 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.36 ₹226

-17.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$5.66 ₹542

229.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$1.77 ₹169

341.81%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.21 ₹212

-11.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.45 ₹42.88

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.18 ₹17.51

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.00 ₹192

6.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.14 ₹397

-9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.45 ₹43.17

280.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.24 ₹23.03

579.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.67 ₹63.9

70.15%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$0.69 ₹66.0

179.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.26 ₹695

123.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.66 ₹254

17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.20 ₹210

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.60 ₹57.7

101.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.72 ₹69.4

125.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.27 ₹26.07

488.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.45 ₹43.36

211.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.30 ₹28.73

290.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.34 ₹32.29

94.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.25 ₹23.68

112.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.90 ₹374

20.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.81 ₹747

138.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.91 ₹182

-5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.29 ₹219

41.05%

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

$6.26 ₹599

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.30 ₹29.00

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.79 ₹841

118.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.54 ₹148

-8.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.30 ₹28.74

330.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.71 ₹163

358.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.17 ₹112

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$17.5K ₹1.7M

21.74%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$20.9K ₹2.0M

6.41%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$46.36 ₹4,436

48.99%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.78 ₹458

194.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$9.84 ₹941

82.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$9.28 ₹888

342.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.59 ₹439

51.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.97 ₹284

99.33%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$22.86 ₹2,187

1208.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$468 ₹44.8K

3096.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$11.52 ₹1,103

374.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$11.64 ₹1,114

129.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$49.38 ₹4,726

72.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$17.47 ₹1,672

304.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$114 ₹10.9K

275.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$80.2 ₹7,676

195.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$183 ₹17.5K

337.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$155 ₹14.8K

233.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$957 ₹91.6K

106.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$446 ₹42.6K

231.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$371 ₹35.5K

66.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.31

-46.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kadapa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Kadapa. 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 66% 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 $6.00 in Kadapa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $102 – making Kadapa 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 Kadapa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Kadapa, 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 $585 in Kadapa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kadapa, 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 $22.86 in Kadapa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 141% 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 $390 in Kadapa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kadapa costs $390 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 Kadapa. 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.