😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $331 in Khammam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $521 in Khammam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $710 in Khammam, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Khammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Khammam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Khammam75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.9
$1.41₹136
39.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$13.99₹1,347
31.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$2.65₹255
182.26%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$0.87₹83.5
132.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.52
$0.30₹28.67
183.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.97
$0.16₹15.29
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.9
$1.78₹172
20.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$2.92₹282
22.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.80₹76.6
106.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.47₹45.25
234.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.05
$0.59₹56.7
101.69%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$0.88₹85.0
120.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿545
$3.73₹359
334.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$3.83₹369
-21.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$1.70₹164
59.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.27
$0.71₹68.8
64.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.8
$1.04₹99.9
62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.42₹40.49
280.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.56
$0.50₹47.70
176.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.47
$0.52₹49.98
130.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.51
$0.43₹41.24
55.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.74
$0.34₹32.41
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$3.13₹301
48.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$5.24₹505
236.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.6
$1.73₹166
7.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.03₹196
62.56%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.61₹348
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.70
$0.40₹38.31
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿651
$17.32₹1,667
11.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.92
$1.13₹108
20.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿45.00
$0.12₹11.89
1016.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$1.54₹148
433.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.20
$1.30₹125
-6.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.5K
$12.8K₹1.2M
66.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿758.1K
$11.8K₹1.1M
90.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,378
$39.56₹3,809
78.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$2.47₹238
468.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿589
$8.41₹809
107.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,418
$11.43₹1,100
268.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$5.18₹498
32.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$2.36₹227
150.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$31.81₹3,063
869.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.7K
$774₹74.5K
1821.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,876
$24.07₹2,317
131.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿879
$15.44₹1,486
69.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,793
$34.28₹3,300
142.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,371
$17.37₹1,672
305.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$81.7₹7,867
428.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,040
$52.4₹5,044
356.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$161₹15.5K
410.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$101₹9,700
408.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$1,065₹102.6K
79.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.4K
$209₹20.1K
602.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Khammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$497₹47.8K
16.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.19
-45.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Khammam: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $81.7 in Khammam. 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 17% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Khammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $99.0 – making Khammam 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 Khammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Khammam?
Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Khammam, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Khammam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $497 in Khammam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Khammam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khammam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Khammam?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.81 in Khammam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Khammam?
Groceries cost about 145% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Khammam?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $331 in Khammam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Khammam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khammam costs $331 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Khammam?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Khammam?
If budget matters most, go with Khammam. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared