Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Krishnagiri

For one person, living is cheaper in Krishnagiri: $338 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Krishnagiri, India
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Krishnagiri
🇮🇳 India
$338
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Krishnagiri

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 Krishnagiri actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $338 in Krishnagiri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Krishnagiri $338

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $538 in Krishnagiri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Krishnagiri $538

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $739 in Krishnagiri, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Krishnagiri $739

Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Krishnagiri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Krishnagiri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Krishnagiri 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿72.0
$2.15 ₹203
-0.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿628
$7.65 ₹724
143.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿189
$4.32 ₹409
29.63%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿56.1
$1.57 ₹149
5.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.82
$0.36 ₹34.28
80.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.29
$0.17 ₹16.40
76.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.3
$1.32 ₹125
75.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿124
$2.86 ₹271
28.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿68.0
$0.47 ₹44.89
329.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$0.34 ₹31.90
314.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.94
$0.59 ₹56.2
135.59%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.9
$0.66 ₹62.1
259.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿557
$3.89 ₹369
324.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿90.1
$2.31 ₹219
15.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿304
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.9
$1.47 ₹140
63.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.12
$0.64 ₹60.6
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.84 ₹79.8
97.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.6
$0.43 ₹40.56
262.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.75
$0.36 ₹33.65
244.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.65
$0.27 ₹25.25
303.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.70
$0.37 ₹35.12
105.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.34
$0.30 ₹28.45
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$3.33 ₹315
23.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿605
$4.00 ₹379
348.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.8
$1.39 ₹132
16.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿95.2
$2.11 ₹200
33.65%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.71 ₹636
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.52
$0.23 ₹21.83
304.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,784
$7.28 ₹690
626.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.69
$0.88 ₹83.7
34.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.78
$0.10 ₹9.53
70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿61.1
$2.16 ₹204
-16.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.67
$1.01 ₹95.6
45.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿708.7K
$11.2K ₹1.1M
88.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿894.4K
$10.4K ₹983.2K
155.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,110
$31.72 ₹3,005
97.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿391
$4.05 ₹384
186.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿685
$7.88 ₹746
157.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,278
$13.99 ₹1,325
170.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿125
$7.69 ₹729
-51.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿220
$2.37 ₹224
174.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.5K
$45.16 ₹4,278
1509.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿559.0K
$1,080 ₹102.3K
1434.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,806
$20.39 ₹1,932
162.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿836
$17.11 ₹1,621
44.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,049
$35.41 ₹3,354
155.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,428
$30.30 ₹2,870
137.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$122 ₹11.6K
293.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.5K
$77.2 ₹7,317
301.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.7K
$272 ₹25.8K
288.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.2K
$190 ₹18.0K
246.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.5K
$911 ₹86.3K
165.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.3K
$536 ₹50.8K
200.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Krishnagiri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.1K
$598 ₹56.7K
-0.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.58
-41.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Krishnagiri: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Krishnagiri
$77 75.1% $233
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Krishnagiri
$79 66.6% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Krishnagiri
$46 57.1% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Krishnagiri
$44 53.8% $51
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Krishnagiri
$63 17.1% $13
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Krishnagiri
$9.6 83.7% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Krishnagiri
$19 63.2% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Krishnagiri. 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 $8 in Krishnagiri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $79 – making Krishnagiri the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Krishnagiri
🕒 Local time
13:15 1:15 PM
11:45 11:45 AM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
71,323
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.72 THB (100 THB = 2.65 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 = 9.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Krishnagiri 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Krishnagiri

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 Krishnagiri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Krishnagiri?
Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Krishnagiri, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Krishnagiri?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $507 in Krishnagiri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Krishnagiri?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Krishnagiri, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Krishnagiri?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $45 in Krishnagiri. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Krishnagiri?
Groceries cost about 200% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Krishnagiri?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Krishnagiri, where all-in costs run around $338, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Krishnagiri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Krishnagiri – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Krishnagiri is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 64% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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