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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $319 in Kharagpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $485 in Kharagpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $651 in Kharagpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 197% more than Kharagpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kharagpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kharagpur 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿68.6
$1.44 ₹136
44.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿646
$8.43 ₹797
132.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.65 ฿186
$3.76 ₹355
50.27%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿59.4
$0.89 ₹84.1
103.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ฿23.45
$0.41 ₹38.38
73.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.38
$0.16 ₹15.58
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ฿73.6
$1.57 ₹148
42.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$3.10 ₹293
17.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ฿64.4
$0.52 ₹49.37
276.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ฿49.39
$0.40 ₹38.19
275.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.93
$0.54 ₹51.5
148.15%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿74.5
$0.90 ₹84.6
151.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.26 ฿535
$3.38 ₹319
381.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.1
$2.73 ₹258
8.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 ฿327
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ฿84.6
$1.93 ₹183
33.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ฿34.73
$0.35 ₹33.24
202.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.0
$1.29 ₹122
24.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.97
$0.38 ₹36.30
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 ฿41.77
$0.13 ₹11.82
876.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 ฿35.06
$0.20 ₹18.88
435.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.68
$0.52 ₹49.48
38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.72
$0.30 ₹28.14
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 ฿138
$5.07 ₹479
-17.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 ฿587
$7.75 ₹732
130.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿55.7
$1.92 ₹181
-11.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿93.3
$2.43 ₹230
16.87%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.77 ₹640
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿30.43
$0.25 ₹23.51
272.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,771
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.59
$1.08 ₹102
13.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿18.96
$0.22 ₹20.81
163.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿79.7
$2.04 ₹193
18.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ฿46.43
$1.12 ₹106
25.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿705.1K
$10.4K ₹983.0K
106.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿898.7K
$21.0K ₹2.0M
30.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,093
$40.36 ₹3,813
57.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85 ฿423
$3.20 ₹302
301.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22 ฿665
$6.88 ₹650
193.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.74 ฿1,274
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74 ฿222
$2.88 ₹272
134.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$778 ฿25.6K
$26.03 ₹2,459
2888.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿480.4K
$788 ₹74.5K
1753.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 ฿1,785
$24.05 ₹2,272
125.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45 ฿837
$24.22 ₹2,288
5.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,102
$44.18 ₹4,174
113.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 ฿2,415
$32.29 ₹3,051
127.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.1K
$81.7 ₹7,717
499.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ฿9,512
$55.7 ₹5,262
419.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 ฿29.4K
$176 ₹16.7K
406.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 ฿17.0K
$128 ₹12.1K
304.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,955 ฿64.3K
$371 ₹35.1K
426.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,477 ฿48.6K
$283 ₹26.7K
422.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kharagpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿19.8K
$240 ₹22.6K
151.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.6
-35.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kharagpur: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $81.7 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 151% 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 $8.00 in Kharagpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $94.0 – 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 197% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $478 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 dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Kharagpur?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $8.00 in Kharagpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Kharagpur?
Groceries cost about 156% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Kharagpur?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kharagpur, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kharagpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kharagpur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharagpur costs $319 versus $947 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.

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