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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $400 in Lucknow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $641 in Lucknow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $881 in Lucknow, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Lucknow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Lucknow are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lucknow 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.39 ₹228

-18.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.44 ₹1,095

62.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.54 ₹339

120.90%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.50 ₹143

30.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.34 ₹32.07

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.13 ₹12.37

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.79 ₹171

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.54 ₹244

46.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.78 ₹74.7

119.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.49 ₹46.76

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.71 ₹68.0

60.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.04 ₹99.1

85.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.68 ₹352

340.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.76 ₹264

13.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.75 ₹167

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.66 ₹63.2

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.88 ₹84.3

84.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.56 ₹54.0

183.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.35 ₹33.95

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.49 ₹47.06

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.37 ₹35.82

78.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.36 ₹34.78

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.78 ₹362

24.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.76 ₹743

140.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.64 ₹157

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.85 ₹273

13.33%

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

$5.51 ₹527

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.49 ₹46.67

83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.42 ₹997

84.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.15 ₹110

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.38 ₹36.73

239.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.39 ₹133

464.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.17 ₹112

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$15.6K ₹1.5M

36.15%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$23.6K ₹2.3M

-5.78%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$44.86 ₹4,293

53.97%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.65 ₹349

285.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.52 ₹719

139.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$22.11 ₹2,116

85.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$9.33 ₹893

-25.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.55 ₹339

66.76%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$57.1 ₹5,461

424.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,631 ₹156.1K

816.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$26.33 ₹2,519

107.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$24.82 ₹2,375

7.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$41.55 ₹3,976

104.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$25.31 ₹2,422

178.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$147 ₹14.1K

190.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$85.9 ₹8,219

176.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$346 ₹33.1K

131.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$210 ₹20.1K

145.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,183 ₹113.2K

66.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$535 ₹51.2K

175.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$369 ₹35.3K

67.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.72

-42.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lucknow: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $147 in Lucknow. 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 67% 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 $11.00 in Lucknow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $101 – making Lucknow 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 Lucknow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Lucknow, 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 $601 in Lucknow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lucknow, 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 $57.1 in Lucknow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $400 in Lucknow, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lucknow costs $400 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 Lucknow. 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.