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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $340 in Mandvi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $544 in Mandvi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $749 in Mandvi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Mandvi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mandvi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Mandvi 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.25 ₹214

-12.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$10.40 ₹988

80.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$2.38 ₹226

232.77%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.48 ₹141

29.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.22 ₹20.79

281.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.12 ₹11.18

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.30 ₹218

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.59 ₹340

5.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.52 ₹49.44

215.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.30 ₹28.68

440.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.50 ₹47.72

136.00%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.85 ₹81.1

136.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.80 ₹550

173.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.11 ₹295

-3.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.87 ₹177

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.78 ₹74.2

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.10 ₹104

54.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.85 ₹80.5

85.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.28 ₹26.28

371.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.30 ₹28.51

290.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.47 ₹44.56

42.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.22 ₹20.84

154.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.99 ₹284

51.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.47 ₹994

73.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.58 ₹245

-29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.23 ₹307

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

$3.91 ₹372

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₹26.33

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.54 ₹811

126.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.60 ₹56.7

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.11 ₹10.81

1127.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.08 ₹198

296.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.17 ₹111

8.55%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$8,026 ₹762.0K

163.59%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$13.7K ₹1.3M

64.05%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$21.73 ₹2,063

222.83%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.66 ₹348

276.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.69 ₹540

209.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$7.97 ₹757

421.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.20 ₹684

-8.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.53 ₹335

63.74%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$92.9 ₹8,818

229.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,822 ₹173.0K

713.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$8.92 ₹847

509.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$11.60 ₹1,101

125.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$17.25 ₹1,638

390.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$17.39 ₹1,651

299.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$124 ₹11.8K

242.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$76.5 ₹7,260

211.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$272 ₹25.9K

202.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$181 ₹17.2K

184.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$989 ₹93.9K

107.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$552 ₹52.4K

175.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mandvi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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: $243 vs $115 – 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 151% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $510 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.9 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $340 in Mandvi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandvi costs $340 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 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.