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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $355 in Mandvi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $556 in Mandvi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $757 in Mandvi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 163% more than Mandvi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mandvi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mandvi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.14 ₹205

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$9.35 ₹897

109.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.62 ₹252

116.41%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.65 ₹159

9.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.32 ₹30.30

140.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.16 ₹14.96

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.40 ₹230

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.74 ₹358

1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.64 ₹61.5

220.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.50 ₹47.84

202.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.59 ₹56.8

137.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.72 ₹69.5

213.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.32 ₹415

274.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.38 ₹324

-14.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.76 ₹169

52.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.61 ₹58.1

78.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.96 ₹92.4

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.71 ₹68.5

105.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.50 ₹48.29

156.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.61 ₹58.6

73.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.55 ₹52.5

30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.28 ₹26.63

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.99 ₹479

-15.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.23 ₹982

78.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.51 ₹241

-35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.16 ₹303

-8.23%

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

$5.59 ₹536

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.25 ₹23.65

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$6.79 ₹651

691.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.76 ₹72.6

53.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.20 ₹19.16

190.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.59 ₹153

50.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.09 ₹105

33.03%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$15.9K ₹1.5M

32.20%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$20.1K ₹1.9M

31.56%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$30.56 ₹2,932

108.28%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.10 ₹297

315.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$5.33 ₹512

284.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$14.49 ₹1,390

169.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.84 ₹656

-42.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.11 ₹298

111.58%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$84.0 ₹8,063

832.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,776 ₹170.4K

725.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$17.17 ₹1,647

220.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$21.44 ₹2,057

15.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$23.14 ₹2,220

306.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$20.05 ₹1,923

268.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$111 ₹10.7K

340.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$67.1 ₹6,435

329.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$290 ₹27.8K

207.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$195 ₹18.7K

167.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$982 ₹94.2K

101.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$521 ₹50.0K

177.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.12

-44.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mandvi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $111 in Mandvi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Mandvi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $114 – making Mandvi 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 Mandvi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 163% more than Mandvi, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $532 in Mandvi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $84.0 in Mandvi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 111% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mandvi, where all-in costs run around $355, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Mandvi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandvi costs $355 versus $932 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 Mandvi. 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.