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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $362 in Kakinada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $580 in Kakinada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Kakinada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Kakinada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kakinada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kakinada 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.79 ₹169

9.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$11.77 ₹1,118

59.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.26 ₹404

85.92%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.91 ₹371

-51.15%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.45 ₹43.15

86.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.14 ₹12.98

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.43 ₹136

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.31 ₹219

64.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.62 ₹58.8

164.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.56 ₹53.3

189.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.60 ₹56.6

96.67%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.86 ₹81.6

133.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.46 ₹423

256.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.85 ₹270

5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.18 ₹207

19.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.87 ₹82.8

40.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.95 ₹89.8

78.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.48 ₹45.67

229.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.37 ₹35.20

256.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.39 ₹36.77

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.65 ₹61.6

3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.37 ₹34.83

51.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.03 ₹383

12.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.19 ₹587

194.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.53 ₹241

-27.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.26 ₹310

-0.92%

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

$4.38 ₹416

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.33 ₹31.73

169.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.82 ₹838

119.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.36 ₹129

-0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.23 ₹21.85

486.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.31 ₹220

257.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.22 ₹116

4.10%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$17.3K ₹1.6M

22.39%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.2K ₹2.2M

-2.98%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$27.55 ₹2,615

154.63%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.68 ₹254

413.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.67 ₹538

210.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.22 ₹1,540

156.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.18 ₹682

-8.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.29 ₹217

152.40%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$30.80 ₹2,924

894.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,347 ₹127.9K

1000.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$10.53 ₹1,000

416.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$8.73 ₹829

199.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$17.58 ₹1,669

380.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$14.59 ₹1,385

375.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$77.7 ₹7,381

444.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$77.4 ₹7,344

207.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$187 ₹17.8K

340.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$183 ₹17.3K

182.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$536 ₹50.9K

18.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-44.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kakinada: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $77.7 in Kakinada. 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 18% 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 Kakinada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $108 – making Kakinada 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 Kakinada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Kakinada, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $543 in Kakinada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $30.80 in Kakinada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 125% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $362 in Kakinada, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kakinada costs $362 versus $852 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 Kakinada. 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.