Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lohaghat

For one person, living is cheaper in Lohaghat: $367 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
18

Cost of Living Index in Lohaghat
Learn more

Lohaghat Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Lohaghat

🇮🇳 India

$367

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $367 in Lohaghat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Lohaghat $367

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $588 in Lohaghat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Lohaghat $588

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $808 in Lohaghat, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Lohaghat $808

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Lohaghat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Lohaghat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lohaghat 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$2.05 ₹194

3.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$10.69 ₹1,013

74.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$3.59 ₹340

55.99%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.64 ₹155

1.22%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.38 ₹35.77

71.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.15 ₹14.05

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

$1.87 ₹177

24.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$2.91 ₹276

26.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$0.63 ₹59.9

220.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.48 ₹45.51

193.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$0.64 ₹60.3

117.19%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$0.91 ₹86.6

160.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$4.66 ₹442

254.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$2.93 ₹277

-8.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$1.84 ₹174

30.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$0.62 ₹59.0

67.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.95 ₹90.0

74.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$0.49 ₹46.27

218.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.33 ₹31.13

275.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.37 ₹35.28

194.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.44 ₹41.67

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.31 ₹29.69

64.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$5.13 ₹486

-19.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$7.32 ₹693

144.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.59 ₹150

1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$2.62 ₹248

7.63%

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

$4.83 ₹458

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.23 ₹21.88

304.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$7.19 ₹681

635.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.85 ₹80.7

38.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.25 ₹23.43

-32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.53 ₹145

18.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$1.11 ₹106

32.43%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

87.16%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$19.5K ₹1.8M

35.85%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$34.48 ₹3,267

81.44%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$3.28 ₹311

253.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$6.67 ₹632

204.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$13.90 ₹1,317

172.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$6.53 ₹619

-43.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$3.00 ₹285

117.00%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$45.90 ₹4,348

1483.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$1,429 ₹135.4K

1059.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$21.75 ₹2,061

146.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$23.71 ₹2,246

4.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$38.59 ₹3,656

134.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$28.74 ₹2,723

150.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$120 ₹11.4K

299.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$77.7 ₹7,356

299.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$266 ₹25.2K

298.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$188 ₹17.8K

250.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$920 ₹87.1K

162.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$530 ₹50.2K

203.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$534 ₹50.6K

11.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Lohaghat: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Lohaghat

$78 21.2% 74.9% $232

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Lohaghat

$100 27.3% 57.7% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Lohaghat

$51 13.8% 53.1% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Lohaghat

$44 12.1% 53% $50

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Lohaghat

$64 17.5% 16.3% $13

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Lohaghat

$10 2.8% 82.6% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Lohaghat

$20 5.4% 60.9% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $120 in Lohaghat. 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 11% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Lohaghat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $100 – making Lohaghat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Lohaghat

🕒 Local time

16:36 4:36 PM

15:06 3:06 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

8,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.56 USD

1,000 INR = 9.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 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 = 9.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Lohaghat 2,250 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lohaghat

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 Lohaghat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Lohaghat, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $551 in Lohaghat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lohaghat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $120 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $46 in Lohaghat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 136% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $367 in Lohaghat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Lohaghat – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Lohaghat. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.