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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $398 in Lucknow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $637 in Lucknow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $876 in Lucknow, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Lucknow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Lucknow are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Lucknow 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.37 ₹228

-17.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.62 ₹1,120

57.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.43 ₹331

118.08%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.50 ₹145

34.67%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.33 ₹32.06

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.13 ₹12.13

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.69 ₹163

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.49 ₹240

44.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.78 ₹75.7

111.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.52 ₹50.3

201.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.65 ₹62.8

83.08%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.99 ₹95.4

95.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.70 ₹357

337.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.71 ₹262

10.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.78 ₹172

52.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.65 ₹62.3

80.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.87 ₹83.5

94.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.56 ₹54.3

185.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.32 ₹31.24

331.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.45 ₹43.53

166.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.35 ₹33.50

91.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.34 ₹32.42

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.93 ₹379

18.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.07 ₹778

118.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.64 ₹158

13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.83 ₹273

16.61%

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

$5.78 ₹558

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.49 ₹46.83

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$10.28 ₹992

88.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.14 ₹110

19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.42 ₹40.24

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.38 ₹133

494.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.21 ₹117

0.83%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$15.5K ₹1.5M

37.40%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$23.8K ₹2.3M

-5.47%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$43.20 ₹4,166

63.59%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.64 ₹351

285.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$7.64 ₹737

128.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$22.05 ₹2,126

91.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$8.81 ₹849

-21.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.47 ₹334

70.61%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$56.6 ₹5,456

445.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,645 ₹158.6K

804.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$26.76 ₹2,581

108.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$24.48 ₹2,361

6.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$41.50 ₹4,002

100.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$25.11 ₹2,421

180.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$148 ₹14.3K

192.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$88.8 ₹8,564

169.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$356 ₹34.3K

131.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$210 ₹20.2K

144.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,152 ₹111.1K

66.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$527 ₹50.8K

178.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$360 ₹34.7K

60.86%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lucknow: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $148 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 61% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Lucknow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 117% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $596 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $56.6 in Lucknow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 142% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $398 in Lucknow, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lucknow costs $398 versus $861 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.