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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $289 in Kakinada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $443 in Kakinada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Kakinada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 222% more than Kakinada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kakinada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kakinada 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.07 ₹102

94.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$8.84 ₹849

121.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.14 ₹301

80.57%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$0.50 ₹47.88

262.00%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.32 ₹30.93

140.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.09 ₹8.47

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.02 ₹97.8

116.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.29 ₹220

65.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.55 ₹52.5

272.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.46 ₹43.80

228.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.53 ₹51.1

164.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.73 ₹70.3

209.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$3.99 ₹382

305.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.49 ₹239

16.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.81 ₹173

48.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.72 ₹69.2

51.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.73 ₹70.2

121.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.44 ₹42.14

231.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.38 ₹36.75

236.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.34 ₹32.72

211.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.61 ₹58.1

18.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.30 ₹29.13

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.12 ₹395

2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.26 ₹697

151.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.84 ₹176

-11.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.00 ₹288

-3.33%

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

$3.40 ₹326

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.30 ₹28.70

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$11.33 ₹1,087

374.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.18 ₹114

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.19 ₹17.91

205.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.11 ₹202

13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.06 ₹102

36.79%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$15.9K ₹1.5M

32.04%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$20.2K ₹1.9M

30.68%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$32.68 ₹3,136

94.77%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.18 ₹306

305.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$5.14 ₹493

299.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$15.53 ₹1,490

151.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$2.12 ₹204

84.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$2.13 ₹204

208.92%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$27.92 ₹2,679

2707.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,214 ₹116.5K

1108.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$9.25 ₹887

495.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$7.97 ₹764

210.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$15.47 ₹1,484

508.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$13.22 ₹1,269

459.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$69.8 ₹6,697

602.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$56.3 ₹5,400

411.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$165 ₹15.9K

438.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$114 ₹10.9K

357.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$529 ₹50.8K

13.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kakinada: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $69.8 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 14% 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 $9.00 in Kakinada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $96.0 – 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 222% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $434 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $27.92 in Kakinada. 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 Kakinada, where all-in costs run around $289, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kakinada 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. Kakinada costs $289 versus $932 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.