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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $394 in Kalyani, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Kalyani, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $856 in Kalyani, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Kalyani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kalyani are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kalyani 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.13 ₹298

-37.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$11.67 ₹1,108

61.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.05 ₹480

56.83%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.78 ₹169

7.30%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.24 ₹22.90

250.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.14 ₹13.50

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.71 ₹163

29.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.99 ₹284

27.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.72 ₹68.5

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.43 ₹40.85

276.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.67 ₹63.9

76.12%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.86 ₹82.1

133.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.53 ₹525

187.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.83 ₹269

6.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.42 ₹230

7.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.55 ₹52.4

121.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.73 ₹68.8

132.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.60 ₹57.0

163.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.35 ₹33.49

277.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.53 ₹50.1

120.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.41 ₹39.19

63.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.28 ₹26.16

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.11 ₹296

45.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.61 ₹818

111.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.42 ₹134

28.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.41 ₹229

34.02%

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

$7.63 ₹725

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.64

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.64 ₹821

124.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.60 ₹56.8

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.10 ₹9.22

1250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.01 ₹191

310.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.26 ₹119

0.79%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$15.8K ₹1.5M

34.18%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.0K ₹2.2M

-2.35%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$41.66 ₹3,955

68.39%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.45 ₹327

299.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.05 ₹479

248.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$9.32 ₹885

346.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$6.97 ₹661

-5.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.70 ₹256

114.07%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$21.14 ₹2,007

1348.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$859 ₹81.6K

1625.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$17.03 ₹1,616

219.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.77 ₹2,826

-12.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$38.32 ₹3,638

120.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$31.31 ₹2,973

121.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$125 ₹11.9K

238.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$75.5 ₹7,165

215.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$272 ₹25.8K

203.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$180 ₹17.1K

186.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$861 ₹81.8K

137.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$550 ₹52.3K

176.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$305 ₹28.9K

108.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kalyani: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Kalyani. 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 108% 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 Kalyani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $106 – making Kalyani 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 Kalyani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Kalyani, 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 $592 in Kalyani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalyani, 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 $21.14 in Kalyani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 130% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $394 in Kalyani, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kalyani costs $394 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 Kalyani. 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.