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 $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Kadapa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $520 in Kadapa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $695 in Kadapa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 172% more than Kadapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kadapa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Kadapa 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.6

$1.71 ₹164

21.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿665

$5.14 ₹492

287.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$4.06 ₹389

37.44%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.1

$1.73 ₹166

0.58%

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

$0.72 ฿24.05

$0.37 ₹35.70

94.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.69

$0.10 ₹9.37

220.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.2

$1.54 ₹148

46.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$3.16 ₹303

20.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.5

$0.53 ₹50.3

281.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.20 ₹19.13

685.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.66

$0.49 ₹47.19

185.71%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿72.0

$0.73 ₹70.3

194.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿523

$5.85 ₹560

167.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.5

$2.11 ₹202

39.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿87.1

$2.05 ₹197

26.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.15

$0.59 ₹56.1

83.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.32 ₹127

20.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.56

$0.25 ₹23.92

480.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.67

$0.40 ₹38.29

220.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.14

$0.25 ₹23.97

344.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.27

$0.29 ₹28.19

151.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.70

$0.27 ₹25.92

85.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$4.10 ₹392

4.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿591

$7.16 ₹685

146.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.82 ₹174

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.6

$2.15 ₹205

30.23%

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

$6.52 ₹624

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.92

$0.25 ₹23.86

248.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,812

$7.09 ₹679

664.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.54

$1.06 ₹101

14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿18.01

$0.32 ₹31.03

68.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.8

$2.11 ₹202

13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.93

$1.11 ₹106

31.53%

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

$21.0K ฿702.5K

$14.9K ₹1.4M

41.13%

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

$26.7K ฿892.4K

$19.8K ₹1.9M

34.77%

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

$62.1 ฿2,075

$38.80 ₹3,715

59.97%

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

$12.93 ฿432

$4.05 ₹388

219.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿689

$7.69 ₹736

168.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,311

$14.21 ₹1,360

175.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$6.58 ₹629

-42.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿218

$2.47 ₹236

163.97%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$20.47 ₹1,960

3822.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.3K

$421 ₹40.3K

3393.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,867

$10.28 ₹984

443.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿853

$10.36 ₹992

146.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,045

$36.16 ₹3,461

151.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,450

$15.47 ₹1,481

373.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.2K

$106 ₹10.2K

356.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,634

$73.5 ₹7,038

291.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.6K

$164 ₹15.7K

439.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$143 ₹13.7K

266.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.5K

$964 ₹92.3K

106.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.2K

$507 ₹48.6K

183.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.2K

$284 ₹27.1K

112.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.88

-43.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Kadapa: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $106 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 113% 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 $5.00 in Kadapa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $94.0 – 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 172% 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 $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $519 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 $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.47 in Kadapa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 152% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kadapa, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Kadapa 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. Kadapa costs $346 versus $942 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.