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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $395 in Kurnool, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Kurnool, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $856 in Kurnool, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Kurnool, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kurnool are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kurnool 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.14 ₹109

73.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$11.70 ₹1,113

60.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.63 ₹440

67.39%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.37 ₹225

-18.99%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.37 ₹34.88

113.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ₹15.88

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.36 ₹224

-6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.45 ₹233

49.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.71 ₹67.1

132.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.37 ₹34.94

340.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.66 ₹62.5

80.30%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.68 ₹64.9

194.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.56 ₹624

143.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.98 ₹284

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.17 ₹112

135.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.83 ₹78.7

42.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.94 ₹89.0

74.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.46 ₹43.62

230.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.28 ₹26.30

392.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.24 ₹22.93

395.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.52 ₹49.77

34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.34 ₹32.14

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.99 ₹380

14.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.05 ₹575

173.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.58 ₹245

-29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.17 ₹301

0.95%

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

$4.37 ₹416

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.28 ₹26.59

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.91 ₹847

110.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.60 ₹56.6

126.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.33 ₹31.31

306.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.31 ₹220

239.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.23 ₹117

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$12.9K ₹1.2M

68.00%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.2K ₹2.2M

-2.78%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$27.40 ₹2,606

157.45%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.60 ₹342

280.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.06 ₹767

116.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$16.05 ₹1,526

157.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.93 ₹659

0.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.53 ₹336

63.46%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$74.4 ₹7,071

313.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,813 ₹172.4K

705.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.07 ₹2,289

131.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.80 ₹2,453

1.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$41.22 ₹3,920

108.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$42.20 ₹4,013

71.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$124 ₹11.8K

247.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$77.3 ₹7,355

208.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$269 ₹25.6K

204.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$183 ₹17.4K

179.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$924 ₹87.9K

114.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$466 ₹44.4K

218.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$512 ₹48.7K

20.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.8

-53.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kurnool: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Kurnool. 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 21% 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 Kurnool. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $106 – making Kurnool 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 Kurnool: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Kurnool, 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 $592 in Kurnool. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kurnool, 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 $74.4 in Kurnool. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 127% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $395 in Kurnool, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kurnool costs $395 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 Kurnool. 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.