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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $407 in Kalyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $694 in Kalyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $981 in Kalyan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 129% more than Kalyan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kalyan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kalyan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.17 ₹305

-34.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$11.34 ₹1,088

72.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.11 ₹394

37.96%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.79 ₹171

1.12%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.34 ₹32.14

126.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.13 ₹12.74

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.45 ₹235

-9.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.16 ₹303

19.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.75 ₹71.5

173.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.48 ₹45.92

214.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.66 ₹63.1

112.12%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.94 ₹90.6

140.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.37 ₹515

201.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.23 ₹310

-10.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.07 ₹198

29.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.62 ₹59.8

75.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.91 ₹87.1

78.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.46 ₹43.99

217.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.35 ₹33.44

265.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.41 ₹39.05

158.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.41 ₹39.80

75.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.28 ₹26.48

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.69 ₹354

14.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.46 ₹716

145.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.81 ₹173

-9.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.02 ₹290

-3.97%

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

$6.02 ₹578

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.18 ₹17.46

388.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$7.58 ₹728

609.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.51 ₹48.55

129.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.20 ₹19.16

190.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.61 ₹155

48.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.08 ₹103

34.26%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$11.9K ₹1.1M

76.29%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$22.6K ₹2.2M

16.80%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$37.18 ₹3,567

71.19%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$4.45 ₹427

189.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$6.53 ₹626

214.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$11.96 ₹1,148

226.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$10.93 ₹1,048

-64.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$2.85 ₹273

130.88%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$71.1 ₹6,822

1002.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,432 ₹137.4K

924.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$21.27 ₹2,041

159.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$24.23 ₹2,324

2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$40.23 ₹3,859

133.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$32.37 ₹3,106

128.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$169 ₹16.2K

190.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$97.7 ₹9,375

194.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$419 ₹40.2K

112.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$285 ₹27.4K

82.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,636 ₹157.0K

20.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$907 ₹87.0K

59.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$581 ₹55.7K

3.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.77

-36.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kalyan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $169 in Kalyan. 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 4% 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 $11.00 in Kalyan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $108 – making Kalyan 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 Kalyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 129% more than Kalyan, 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 $611 in Kalyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalyan, 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 $71.1 in Kalyan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 124% 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 Kalyan, where all-in costs run around $407, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kalyan 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. Kalyan costs $407 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 Kalyan. 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.