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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $379 in Kozhikode, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $612 in Kozhikode, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $844 in Kozhikode, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 129% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kozhikode 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.70 ₹162

16.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$11.83 ₹1,126

58.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.44 ₹327

125.29%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.28 ₹121

50.00%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.40 ₹37.70

97.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.14 ₹13.68

157.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.52 ₹145

45.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.29 ₹217

59.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.67 ₹63.5

146.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.49 ₹46.36

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.54 ₹51.6

120.37%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.84 ₹80.0

138.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.00 ₹476

219.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.59 ₹246

16.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.13 ₹202

29.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.65 ₹62.0

81.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.13 ₹107

45.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.52 ₹49.34

192.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.44 ₹41.66

213.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.40 ₹38.40

197.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.71 ₹67.2

-1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.25 ₹23.75

124.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.59 ₹436

-0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.07 ₹483

226.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.03 ₹193

-9.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.70 ₹256

18.52%

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

$3.89 ₹370

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.12 ₹11.08

633.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$5.97 ₹568

213.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.89 ₹85.0

52.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.26 ₹24.63

415.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.75 ₹167

348.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.18 ₹112

4.24%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$11.8K ₹1.1M

83.81%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.1K ₹1.9M

12.19%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$43.13 ₹4,101

63.55%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.52 ₹335

288.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$6.43 ₹612

171.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$16.60 ₹1,578

148.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.95 ₹565

16.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.90 ₹276

98.97%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$39.33 ₹3,740

680.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$559 ₹53.1K

2514.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$30.07 ₹2,859

85.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$30.17 ₹2,869

-13.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$55.0 ₹5,229

55.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$41.81 ₹3,976

72.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$95.2 ₹9,049

351.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$72.7 ₹6,912

228.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$275 ₹26.2K

196.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$169 ₹16.1K

202.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$895 ₹85.1K

121.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$673 ₹64.0K

120.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$189 ₹18.0K

226.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.62

-34.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kozhikode: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $95.2 in Kozhikode. 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 227% 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 $12.00 in Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $100 – making Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 129% more than Kozhikode, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $569 in Kozhikode. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $39.33 in Kozhikode. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 140% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $379 in Kozhikode, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kozhikode costs $379 versus $869 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 Kozhikode. 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.