😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $343 in Kharagpur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $547 in Kharagpur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $752 in Kharagpur, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Kharagpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kharagpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Kharagpur74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$1.59₹153
23.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$7.63₹736
140.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$3.43₹331
118.08%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$0.79₹76.7
155.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.38₹36.90
123.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.13₹12.41
176.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$1.71₹164
25.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$3.47₹334
3.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.60₹57.6
175.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.48₹45.84
227.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$0.49₹47.56
142.86%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$0.80₹77.3
142.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$3.65₹352
343.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$2.35₹227
27.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$2.30₹221
17.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$0.76₹73.3
53.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.42₹137
19.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.58₹56.4
175.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.22₹21.15
527.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.45₹43.22
166.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.47₹45.46
42.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.28₹26.61
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$2.27₹219
104.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$7.62₹735
131.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$2.07₹200
-10.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.92₹281
13.01%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$8.64₹833
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.30₹29.02
193.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$8.47₹816
128.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$1.14₹110
19.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.24₹23.24
458.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$2.27₹219
261.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.17₹112
4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$11.6K₹1.1M
83.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$26.7K₹2.6M
-15.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$36.80₹3,548
92.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$3.31₹319
324.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$4.64₹447
276.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$16.11₹1,553
161.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$7.13₹687
-3.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$2.82₹272
109.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$83.6₹8,065
268.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$2,021₹194.9K
636.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$12.61₹1,216
342.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$29.27₹2,823
-10.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$30.62₹2,953
171.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$11.70₹1,128
502.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$124₹11.9K
249.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$76.5₹7,381
212.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$276₹26.6K
198.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$181₹17.4K
183.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$365₹35.2K
424.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$279₹26.9K
425.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$238₹22.9K
143.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.9
-27.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Kharagpur: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Kharagpur. 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 144% 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 $8.00 in Kharagpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $101 – making Kharagpur 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 Kharagpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kharagpur?
Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Kharagpur, 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 Kharagpur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $514 in Kharagpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kharagpur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kharagpur, 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 Kharagpur?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.6 in Kharagpur. 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 Kharagpur?
Groceries cost about 140% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Kharagpur?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $343 in Kharagpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kharagpur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharagpur costs $343 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 Kharagpur?
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 Kharagpur?
If budget matters most, go with Kharagpur. 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