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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $321 in Khammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $511 in Khammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $700 in Khammam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Khammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Khammam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Khammam 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.48 ₹141

31.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$14.24 ₹1,356

30.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.55 ₹243

206.67%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.83 ₹79.0

134.94%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.32 ₹30.56

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.17 ₹16.14

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.70 ₹162

25.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.96 ₹282

26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.81 ₹76.8

111.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.47 ₹44.52

246.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.59 ₹56.3

93.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.88 ₹84.1

119.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.57 ₹340

354.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.81 ₹363

-18.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.69 ₹161

62.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.67 ₹64.1

80.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.07 ₹102

51.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.42 ₹40.14

278.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.49 ₹46.98

185.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.48 ₹45.68

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.43 ₹40.85

53.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.34 ₹32.35

55.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.12 ₹297

50.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.16 ₹492

261.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.77 ₹169

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.11 ₹201

53.08%

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

$3.77 ₹359

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.39 ₹37.42

130.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$17.69 ₹1,685

8.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.17 ₹112

20.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.13 ₹12.24

892.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.54 ₹147

409.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.24 ₹118

2.42%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$12.8K ₹1.2M

66.11%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$11.7K ₹1.1M

89.82%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$38.54 ₹3,671

79.22%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$2.48 ₹236

467.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.22 ₹783

118.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$11.72 ₹1,116

250.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.37 ₹511

29.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.39 ₹227

147.70%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$31.60 ₹3,010

846.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$770 ₹73.3K

1842.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$24.41 ₹2,325

124.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$15.69 ₹1,494

70.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$35.01 ₹3,335

142.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$17.59 ₹1,676

301.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$82.9 ₹7,898

416.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$51.7 ₹4,926

358.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$164 ₹15.6K

390.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$104 ₹9,880

396.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,066 ₹101.6K

85.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$209 ₹20.0K

604.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$491 ₹46.8K

25.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.19

-45.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Khammam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $82.9 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 26% 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 $14.00 in Khammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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

Chiang Mai costs about 170% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $482 in Khammam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.60 in Khammam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 149% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $321 in Khammam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khammam costs $321 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 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.