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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $281 in Kollam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $456 in Kollam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Kollam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 232% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kollam 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.02 ₹98.0

103.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$6.14 ₹589

219.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.59 ₹345

57.94%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.40 ₹134

29.29%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.41 ₹39.29

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.15 ₹14.58

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.12 ₹107

97.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.68 ₹257

41.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.57 ₹54.8

259.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.40 ₹38.54

277.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.47 ₹45.22

197.87%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.75 ₹71.5

201.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.27 ₹506

207.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.04 ₹196

42.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.64 ₹158

63.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.58 ₹56.0

87.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.68 ₹64.8

138.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.39 ₹37.50

274.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.43 ₹41.44

197.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.35 ₹33.89

202.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.36 ₹34.46

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.30 ₹29.07

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.09 ₹488

-16.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$2.64 ₹254

592.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.67 ₹160

-2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.75 ₹264

5.45%

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

$4.16 ₹399

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.15 ₹14.47

486.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$7.16 ₹687

650.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.02 ₹98.1

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.26 ₹24.91

123.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.60 ₹154

49.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.06 ₹102

36.79%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$10.4K ₹999.3K

101.73%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$16.4K ₹1.6M

60.95%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$32.97 ₹3,163

93.05%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$2.93 ₹281

339.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$5.23 ₹502

292.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$13.31 ₹1,277

193.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$12.75 ₹1,223

-69.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$1.53 ₹147

330.07%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$20.74 ₹1,990

3679.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,328 ₹127.4K

1004.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$16.33 ₹1,567

237.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$21.68 ₹2,080

14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$24.98 ₹2,396

276.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$24.08 ₹2,310

207.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$82.3 ₹7,892

496.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$46.28 ₹4,441

522.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$182 ₹17.5K

389.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$114 ₹10.9K

356.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$828 ₹79.4K

138.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$443 ₹42.5K

226.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$530 ₹50.9K

13.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.13

-38.99%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kollam: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $82.3 in Kollam. 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 14% 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 $6.00 in Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $83.0 – making Kollam 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 Kollam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 232% more than Kollam, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $422 in Kollam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kollam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.74 in Kollam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 190% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kollam, where all-in costs run around $281, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kollam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kollam costs $281 versus $932 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 Kollam. 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.