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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $336 in Mandvi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $532 in Mandvi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $729 in Mandvi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 159% more than Mandvi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mandvi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mandvi 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.28 ₹216

-13.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.40 ₹989

80.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.35 ₹224

229.79%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.46 ₹139

31.51%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.22 ₹20.91

259.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.13 ₹12.76

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.37 ₹226

-6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.41 ₹324

7.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.48 ₹45.37

243.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.28 ₹26.25

482.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.46 ₹43.98

158.70%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.80 ₹76.5

150.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.57 ₹529

186.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.05 ₹290

-0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.89 ₹180

46.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.74 ₹70.1

59.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.04 ₹99.0

57.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.89 ₹84.7

70.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.28 ₹26.37

392.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.30 ₹28.66

296.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.47 ₹44.52

48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.24 ₹22.93

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.94 ₹280

55.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.30 ₹979

60.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.54 ₹242

-27.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.07 ₹292

4.23%

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

$3.78 ₹360

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.30 ₹28.59

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.47 ₹806

121.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.56 ₹53.4

142.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.10 ₹9.31

1240.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.03 ₹193

286.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.17 ₹111

5.13%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$8,002 ₹761.0K

170.24%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$13.8K ₹1.3M

63.19%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$21.64 ₹2,058

225.97%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.53 ₹336

287.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$5.86 ₹558

197.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$8.12 ₹772

408.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.99 ₹664

-0.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.51 ₹334

64.39%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$93.9 ₹8,931

226.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,833 ₹174.3K

697.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$8.53 ₹811

554.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$11.50 ₹1,093

127.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$17.23 ₹1,638

397.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$17.68 ₹1,681

308.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$123 ₹11.7K

250.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$76.2 ₹7,249

213.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$275 ₹26.1K

197.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$183 ₹17.4K

178.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$974 ₹92.6K

103.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$519 ₹49.4K

185.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

-41.18%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mandvi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Mandvi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $113 – 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 159% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $503 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.9 in Mandvi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $336 in Mandvi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandvi costs $336 versus $869 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.