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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $379 in Kadapa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $570 in Kadapa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $761 in Kadapa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 127% more than Kadapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kadapa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kadapa 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.31 ₹223

-15.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$5.91 ₹569

210.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$1.77 ₹170

322.60%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.14 ₹206

-5.61%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.45 ₹43.03

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.19 ₹18.16

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.02 ₹195

5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.96 ₹381

-9.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.42 ₹40.31

292.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.22 ₹21.11

613.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.64 ₹61.5

85.94%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.71 ₹68.4

173.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$7.37 ₹710

119.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.70 ₹260

10.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.24 ₹216

20.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.60 ₹58.1

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.73 ₹70.0

131.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.27 ₹26.24

492.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.49 ₹47.02

181.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.28 ₹26.82

328.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.36 ₹34.69

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.27 ₹26.24

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.00 ₹385

16.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.22 ₹695

144.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.85 ₹178

0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.28 ₹219

44.74%

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

$6.17 ₹594

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.30 ₹28.90

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$8.84 ₹851

118.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.60 ₹154

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.30 ₹28.94

346.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.72 ₹166

377.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.23 ₹118

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$17.2K ₹1.7M

24.25%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$21.3K ₹2.0M

6.00%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$45.82 ₹4,411

54.23%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.75 ₹457

195.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$9.47 ₹912

84.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$9.20 ₹886

358.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$4.74 ₹457

45.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.85 ₹274

107.72%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$23.66 ₹2,278

1204.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$459 ₹44.2K

3143.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$11.73 ₹1,129

375.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$11.56 ₹1,113

125.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$50.4 ₹4,855

64.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$17.74 ₹1,708

297.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$117 ₹11.2K

270.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$82.5 ₹7,942

189.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$183 ₹17.6K

349.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$154 ₹14.9K

231.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,066 ₹102.6K

79.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$516 ₹49.7K

184.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$368 ₹35.4K

57.39%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kadapa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $117 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 57% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Kadapa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $101 – 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 127% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $569 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $23.66 in Kadapa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 140% 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 $379 in Kadapa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kadapa costs $379 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 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.