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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $296 in Khammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $462 in Khammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $628 in Khammam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 215% more than Khammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Khammam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Khammam 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.33 ₹128

56.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$12.56 ₹1,205

56.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.30 ₹221

146.52%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$0.74 ₹70.9

144.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.27 ₹25.80

185.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.16 ₹15.77

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.56 ₹149

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.58 ₹248

46.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.68 ₹65.0

201.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.45 ₹43.51

235.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.55 ₹52.7

154.55%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.77 ₹73.5

193.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$3.39 ₹325

377.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.41 ₹327

-14.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.56 ₹149

71.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.62 ₹59.3

75.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.07 ₹103

51.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.35 ₹33.93

317.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.38 ₹36.60

236.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.36 ₹34.06

194.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.35 ₹33.87

105.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.32 ₹31.11

65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.95 ₹283

43.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.18 ₹497

253.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.52 ₹146

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.92 ₹185

51.04%

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

$3.30 ₹317

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.39 ₹37.19

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$15.48 ₹1,485

247.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.82 ₹78.6

42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.14 ₹13.41

314.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.13 ₹109

111.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.16 ₹111

25.00%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$11.6K ₹1.1M

81.56%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$10.3K ₹985.4K

157.27%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$39.84 ₹3,822

59.76%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$2.21 ₹212

483.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$7.61 ₹730

169.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$10.24 ₹983

281.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$4.57 ₹438

-14.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$2.07 ₹199

217.87%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$28.47 ₹2,731

2653.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$703 ₹67.4K

1988.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$22.18 ₹2,128

148.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$14.07 ₹1,349

75.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$31.79 ₹3,050

196.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$15.61 ₹1,497

373.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$74.3 ₹7,129

559.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$46.36 ₹4,448

521.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$146 ₹14.0K

511.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$90.2 ₹8,658

477.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,084 ₹104.0K

82.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$212 ₹20.4K

580.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$491 ₹47.1K

22.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.46

-34.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Khammam: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $74.3 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 23% 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 $13.00 in Khammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $90.0 – 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 215% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $444 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $28.47 in Khammam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 167% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Khammam, where all-in costs run around $296, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Khammam 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. Khammam costs $296 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 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.