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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $378 in Machilipatnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Machilipatnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $861 in Machilipatnam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Machilipatnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Machilipatnam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Machilipatnam 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.48 ₹237

-17.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$12.89 ₹1,229

45.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.48 ₹427

75.45%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.57 ₹150

29.30%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.22 ₹20.92

263.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.10 ₹9.69

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.79 ₹171

19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.35 ₹320

9.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.72 ₹69.0

140.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.36 ₹34.45

336.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.51 ₹48.54

135.29%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.73 ₹69.7

169.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$5.37 ₹512

202.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.53 ₹337

-13.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.79 ₹266

-0.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.76 ₹72.3

53.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.30 ₹124

31.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.54 ₹51.9

194.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.55 ₹52.8

152.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.36 ₹34.52

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.46 ₹43.60

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.36 ₹33.88

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.48 ₹427

3.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.02 ₹860

97.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.95 ₹186

-8.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.78 ₹361

-11.64%

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

$4.74 ₹452

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.28 ₹26.29

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.76 ₹836

112.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.46 ₹140

-3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.23 ₹21.99

482.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.34 ₹223

246.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.24 ₹118

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$15.4K ₹1.5M

39.49%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$24.8K ₹2.4M

-11.89%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$17.49 ₹1,668

307.83%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.80 ₹363

268.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$5.70 ₹543

214.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$15.86 ₹1,513

157.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.18 ₹685

-4.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.27 ₹312

74.92%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$67.8 ₹6,466

354.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,766 ₹168.4K

731.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$30.14 ₹2,875

85.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$28.32 ₹2,701

-8.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$37.76 ₹3,601

124.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$37.78 ₹3,603

87.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$126 ₹12.0K

235.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$74.7 ₹7,124

224.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$274 ₹26.1K

191.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$181 ₹17.2K

180.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,053 ₹100.5K

82.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$533 ₹50.8K

174.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$211 ₹20.2K

181.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Machilipatnam: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Machilipatnam. 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 182% 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 $13.00 in Machilipatnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $120 – making Machilipatnam 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 Machilipatnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Machilipatnam, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $566 in Machilipatnam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Machilipatnam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $67.8 in Machilipatnam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 104% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $378 in Machilipatnam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Machilipatnam costs $378 versus $852 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 Machilipatnam. 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.