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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $368 in Kannur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $573 in Kannur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $777 in Kannur, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Kannur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kannur 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.19 ₹114

63.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$9.65 ₹919

93.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.15 ₹395

88.43%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.43 ₹136

36.36%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.40 ₹38.55

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.13 ₹12.09

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.75 ₹167

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.27 ₹216

64.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.62 ₹59.4

175.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.46 ₹43.96

254.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.53 ₹50.8

115.09%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.74 ₹70.5

160.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.19 ₹495

212.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.80 ₹266

11.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.56 ₹243

7.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.69 ₹65.7

75.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.80 ₹76.1

102.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.45 ₹43.13

253.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.37 ₹35.21

278.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.42 ₹40.19

178.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.42 ₹40.21

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.32 ₹30.89

65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.09 ₹390

14.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.43 ₹803

121.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.03 ₹194

-11.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.36 ₹225

36.86%

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

$3.97 ₹378

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.22 ₹20.89

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$5.93 ₹565

223.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.13 ₹108

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.33 ₹31.37

290.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.68 ₹160

366.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.18 ₹113

7.63%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$9,786 ₹932.2K

117.42%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$14.8K ₹1.4M

49.77%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$26.85 ₹2,558

157.24%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.24 ₹309

334.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.32 ₹697

145.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$11.97 ₹1,140

243.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.31 ₹982

-32.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.63 ₹251

125.10%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$58.2 ₹5,543

413.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,552 ₹147.8K

863.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$22.90 ₹2,181

138.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$19.34 ₹1,842

38.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$38.62 ₹3,679

120.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$27.64 ₹2,632

155.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$146 ₹13.9K

193.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$91.1 ₹8,676

160.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$201 ₹19.1K

299.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$174 ₹16.6K

195.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$737 ₹70.2K

167.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,788 ₹170.3K

-17.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$263 ₹25.0K

135.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.36

-46.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kannur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $146 in Kannur. 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 135% 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 $10.00 in Kannur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $107 – making Kannur 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 Kannur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Kannur, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $553 in Kannur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.2 in Kannur. 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $368 in Kannur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kannur costs $368 versus $866 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 Kannur. 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.