Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kolar Gold Fields

For one person, living is cheaper in Kolar Gold Fields: $365 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
18

Cost of Living Index in Kolar Gold Fields
Learn more

Kolar Gold Fields Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kolar Gold Fields

🇮🇳 India

$365

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kolar Gold Fields

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kolar Gold Fields actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $365 in Kolar Gold Fields, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kolar Gold Fields $365

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $584 in Kolar Gold Fields, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kolar Gold Fields $584

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $804 in Kolar Gold Fields, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kolar Gold Fields $804

Chiang Mai costs about 156% more than Kolar Gold Fields, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Kolar Gold Fields are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kolar Gold Fields 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$2.05 ₹194

3.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$10.35 ₹981

79.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$3.66 ₹346

53.01%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.58 ₹150

5.06%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.38 ₹35.83

71.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.16 ₹14.88

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$1.85 ₹175

25.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$2.96 ₹280

23.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$0.63 ₹59.8

220.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.45 ₹42.55

213.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.64 ₹60.4

117.19%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$0.91 ₹85.8

160.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$4.42 ₹418

273.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$2.86 ₹271

-6.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$1.94 ₹184

23.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$0.66 ₹63.0

57.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.94 ₹89.4

76.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$0.45 ₹43.08

246.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.35 ₹33.16

254.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.40 ₹38.06

172.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.43 ₹40.89

76.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.29 ₹27.24

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$5.14 ₹486

-19.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$7.22 ₹684

148.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.59 ₹151

1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$2.64 ₹250

6.82%

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

$4.99 ₹473

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.23 ₹21.86

304.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$7.01 ₹664

654.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.83 ₹78.4

42.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.25 ₹23.63

-32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.55 ₹147

16.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$1.07 ₹102

37.38%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$11.1K ₹1.0M

90.11%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$20.0K ₹1.9M

32.86%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$34.33 ₹3,252

82.23%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$3.35 ₹317

246.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$6.60 ₹625

207.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$14.44 ₹1,368

162.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$6.56 ₹621

-43.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$2.87 ₹272

126.83%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$46.84 ₹4,437

1452.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$1,422 ₹134.7K

1065.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$22.23 ₹2,106

140.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$23.31 ₹2,209

6.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$38.16 ₹3,615

136.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$28.70 ₹2,719

150.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$119 ₹11.2K

305.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$77.2 ₹7,316

301.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$271 ₹25.7K

290.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$189 ₹17.9K

249.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$935 ₹88.5K

158.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$533 ₹50.5K

201.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kolar Gold Fields: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kolar Gold Fields

$77 21.2% 75.1% $233

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kolar Gold Fields

$99 27.1% 58.2% $138

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kolar Gold Fields

$51 13.9% 53.3% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kolar Gold Fields

$44 12.1% 53.1% $50

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kolar Gold Fields

$64 17.4% 17% $13

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kolar Gold Fields

$10 2.7% 82.9% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kolar Gold Fields

$20 5.5% 60.4% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $119 in Kolar Gold Fields. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Kolar Gold Fields. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $99 – making Kolar Gold Fields the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Kolar Gold Fields

🕒 Local time

17:03 5:03 PM

15:33 3:33 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

163,643

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.56 USD

1,000 INR = 9.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 94.73 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kolar Gold Fields 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kolar Gold Fields

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kolar Gold Fields: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 156% more than Kolar Gold Fields, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $547 in Kolar Gold Fields. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kolar Gold Fields, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $119 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $47 in Kolar Gold Fields. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 139% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kolar Gold Fields, where all-in costs run around $365, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Kolar Gold Fields it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kolar Gold Fields – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Kolar Gold Fields is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 61% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.