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 $367 in Kakinada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $581 in Kakinada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $795 in Kakinada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 133% 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 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.69 ₹161

20.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$11.78 ₹1,123

58.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.33 ₹413

81.52%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.85 ₹367

-47.27%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.45 ₹42.75

77.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.15 ₹14.21

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.42 ₹136

50.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.31 ₹220

58.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.62 ₹58.9

179.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.57 ₹54.1

175.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.61 ₹58.0

96.72%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.81 ₹77.6

143.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.47 ₹426

263.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.90 ₹277

5.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.24 ₹213

23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.82 ₹77.8

42.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.89 ₹85.2

92.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.48 ₹46.02

231.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.38 ₹36.07

265.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.36 ₹34.12

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.64 ₹60.6

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.36 ₹34.77

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.91 ₹373

18.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$7.17 ₹683

147.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.44 ₹233

-26.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.26 ₹311

2.45%

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

$4.40 ₹420

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.36 ₹34.46

152.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.92 ₹851

108.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.33 ₹127

6.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.23 ₹21.94

482.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.38 ₹227

240.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.27 ₹121

-3.15%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$17.5K ₹1.7M

22.18%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$23.3K ₹2.2M

-6.31%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$27.47 ₹2,619

159.67%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$2.77 ₹264

405.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$5.89 ₹562

204.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$16.21 ₹1,546

151.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.23 ₹689

-4.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.31 ₹220

147.62%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$31.11 ₹2,967

890.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,361 ₹129.8K

978.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$10.58 ₹1,009

427.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$8.86 ₹845

193.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$17.17 ₹1,638

393.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$14.52 ₹1,385

388.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$77.0 ₹7,347

449.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$76.9 ₹7,330

215.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$185 ₹17.7K

330.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$178 ₹16.9K

185.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$525 ₹50.0K

13.43%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kakinada: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $77.0 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 13% 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: $244 vs $109 – 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 133% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $550 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.11 in Kakinada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 123% 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 $367 in Kakinada, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kakinada costs $367 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.