Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kolkata (Calcutta)

For one person, living is cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta): $434 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
21

Cost of Living Index in Kolkata (Calcutta)
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Kolkata (Calcutta) Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Kolkata (Calcutta)

🇮🇳 India

$434

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kolkata (Calcutta)

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 Kolkata (Calcutta) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $434 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Kolkata (Calcutta) $434

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $691 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Kolkata (Calcutta) $691

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $948 in Kolkata (Calcutta), rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Kolkata (Calcutta) $948

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Kolkata (Calcutta) are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kolkata (Calcutta) 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$2.08 ₹198

7.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$13.98 ₹1,331

35.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$4.15 ₹395

33.73%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$1.66 ₹158

0.60%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$0.45 ₹42.81

42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$0.12 ₹11.15

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.95 ₹185

21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$3.01 ₹286

21.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$0.67 ₹63.6

191.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$0.50 ₹47.66

188.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$0.74 ₹70.4

79.73%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$1.08 ₹103

111.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$5.20 ₹495

216.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$3.00 ₹286

-7.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$2.42 ₹230

-2.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$0.81 ₹77.2

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$1.36 ₹130

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.66 ₹62.7

127.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$0.30 ₹28.74

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$0.47 ₹44.95

134.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$0.31 ₹29.08

129.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.28 ₹26.89

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$5.10 ₹485

-18.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$10.36 ₹986

69.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.76 ₹168

-8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$2.82 ₹268

-1.42%

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

$7.01 ₹667

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.18 ₹16.70

383.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$3.12 ₹297

1633.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$0.81 ₹76.9

43.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$0.31 ₹29.28

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$1.61 ₹153

50.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$1.10 ₹105

31.82%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$13.1K ₹1.3M

60.22%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$23.3K ₹2.2M

15.78%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$52.5 ₹5,000

18.37%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$5.16 ₹492

135.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$7.36 ₹701

173.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$15.76 ₹1,500

136.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$11.45 ₹1,091

-67.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$3.19 ₹304

103.45%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$43.26 ₹4,119

1601.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$1,997 ₹190.2K

639.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$27.19 ₹2,589

96.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$26.01 ₹2,477

-5.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$35.95 ₹3,422

154.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$29.01 ₹2,762

147.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$167 ₹15.9K

188.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$103 ₹9,829

199.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$392 ₹37.3K

156.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$241 ₹22.9K

163.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$1,097 ₹104.5K

115.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$612 ₹58.2K

159.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$379 ₹36.1K

55.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.08

-38.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$103 23.8% 66.6% $206

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$117 27% 50.1% $118

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$53 12.3% 51.1% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$65 15% 31.1% $29

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$67 15.5% 13.5% $10

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$6.2 1.4% 89.9% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kolkata (Calcutta)

$22 5.1% 56% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $167 in Kolkata (Calcutta). 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 55% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $14 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $117 – making Kolkata (Calcutta) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Kolkata (Calcutta)

🕒 Local time

13:29 1:29 PM

11:59 11:59 AM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

4,486,679

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.5 USD

1,000 INR = 9.43 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 October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 95.21 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kolkata (Calcutta) 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kolkata (Calcutta)

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 Kolkata (Calcutta): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Kolkata (Calcutta), 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 $651 in Kolkata (Calcutta). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kolkata (Calcutta), especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $167 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $43 in Kolkata (Calcutta). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 101% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kolkata (Calcutta), where all-in costs run around $434, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Kolkata (Calcutta) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kolkata (Calcutta) – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kolkata (Calcutta). If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.