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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $299 in Kollam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $484 in Kollam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $668 in Kollam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 189% more than Kollam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kollam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kollam 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.14 ₹108

70.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.04 ₹671

164.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.96 ₹377

97.47%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.26 ₹120

54.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.40 ₹38.50

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.12 ₹11.83

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.69 ₹161

26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.97 ₹283

25.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.59 ₹55.8

189.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.47 ₹44.95

246.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.51 ₹48.71

123.53%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.82 ₹77.8

135.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.29 ₹504

206.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.26 ₹215

38.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.24 ₹213

22.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.58 ₹55.1

108.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.79 ₹75.7

105.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.45 ₹43.00

253.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.48 ₹45.92

191.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.39 ₹37.25

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.40 ₹37.75

65.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.30 ₹28.43

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.55 ₹338

32.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$2.58 ₹246

623.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.20 ₹210

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.88 ₹275

12.15%

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

$4.63 ₹441

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.12 ₹11.18

650.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$7.82 ₹745

145.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.14 ₹108

23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.30 ₹28.38

330.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.59 ₹152

393.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.21 ₹115

4.96%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$11.7K ₹1.1M

81.44%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$15.9K ₹1.5M

39.67%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$26.84 ₹2,557

157.34%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.29 ₹313

327.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.74 ₹547

213.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$12.11 ₹1,153

239.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.27 ₹1,359

-51.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$1.72 ₹164

244.19%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$23.69 ₹2,257

1162.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,543 ₹147.0K

869.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$18.56 ₹1,768

194.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$19.39 ₹1,847

38.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$28.36 ₹2,702

199.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$27.59 ₹2,628

155.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$92.4 ₹8,802

363.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$52.7 ₹5,017

350.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$198 ₹18.9K

304.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$128 ₹12.2K

303.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$832 ₹79.3K

137.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$458 ₹43.6K

221.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$532 ₹50.6K

16.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.97

-44.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kollam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $92.4 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 16% 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 Kollam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $92.0 – 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 189% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $449 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $23.69 in Kollam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 166% 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 $299 in Kollam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kollam costs $299 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 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.