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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $341 in Kharagpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $543 in Kharagpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $746 in Kharagpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 154% more than Kharagpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kharagpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kharagpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.60 ₹153

21.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.38 ₹706

152.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.40 ₹325

130.00%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.78 ₹74.7

150.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.36 ₹34.44

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.16 ₹15.29

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.67 ₹160

27.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.30 ₹316

13.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.61 ₹58.2

180.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.51 ₹48.93

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.48 ₹46.07

137.50%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$0.77 ₹73.4

150.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.62 ₹347

347.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.27 ₹217

37.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.19 ₹210

25.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.77 ₹73.3

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.42 ₹136

14.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.62 ₹59.4

156.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.24 ₹23.04

483.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.46 ₹43.79

154.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.46 ₹44.50

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.28 ₹26.44

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.29 ₹219

104.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.62 ₹729

144.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.09 ₹200

-13.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.07 ₹294

5.21%

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

$8.61 ₹824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.28 ₹26.74

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.80 ₹842

118.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.19 ₹114

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.24 ₹22.97

437.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.36 ₹225

232.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.16 ₹111

9.48%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$11.5K ₹1.1M

84.31%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$26.9K ₹2.6M

-17.39%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$36.90 ₹3,531

87.18%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.28 ₹314

329.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$4.63 ₹443

288.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$16.17 ₹1,548

153.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.10 ₹680

-1.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.74 ₹263

116.06%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$83.1 ₹7,951

259.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$2,024 ₹193.6K

638.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$12.76 ₹1,221

328.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$28.60 ₹2,737

-6.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$29.81 ₹2,853

185.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$11.57 ₹1,107

510.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$124 ₹11.9K

245.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$75.7 ₹7,239

213.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$279 ₹26.7K

186.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$181 ₹17.3K

185.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$368 ₹35.2K

436.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$279 ₹26.7K

428.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$235 ₹22.5K

162.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.9

-27.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kharagpur: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 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 163% 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 $7.00 in Kharagpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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

Chiang Mai costs about 154% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $511 in Kharagpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.1 in Kharagpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 143% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $341 in Kharagpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharagpur costs $341 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 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.