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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $411 in Mohali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $693 in Mohali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $975 in Mohali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 111% more than Mohali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mohali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mohali 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.87 ₹275

-32.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.82 ₹1,322

34.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.59 ₹344

117.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.96 ₹188

-0.51%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.46 ₹43.70

84.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.18 ₹17.01

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.78 ₹171

19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.86 ₹274

30.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.78 ₹74.8

119.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.54 ₹51.7

201.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.90 ₹86.0

26.67%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.10 ₹106

75.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.25 ₹407

281.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.33 ₹319

-6.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.97 ₹188

39.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.79 ₹76.0

53.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.93 ₹89.1

74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.53 ₹50.3

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.33 ₹31.88

324.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.33 ₹31.29

254.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.48 ₹46.01

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.35 ₹33.03

51.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.89 ₹372

20.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.48 ₹907

96.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.11 ₹202

-14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.05 ₹387

-20.25%

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

$5.63 ₹538

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.61 ₹58.2

47.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$5.95 ₹570

222.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.73 ₹70.3

93.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.31 ₹125

498.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.16 ₹111

9.48%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$14.4K ₹1.4M

47.65%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$23.9K ₹2.3M

-6.93%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$50.6 ₹4,839

36.61%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.56 ₹341

295.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$6.25 ₹598

188.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$14.74 ₹1,410

178.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$17.48 ₹1,673

-60.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.94 ₹281

101.36%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$61.8 ₹5,909

384.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,742 ₹166.7K

758.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$24.70 ₹2,364

121.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$26.84 ₹2,568

-0.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$48.11 ₹4,604

76.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$33.35 ₹3,191

111.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$134 ₹12.8K

219.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$77.0 ₹7,364

208.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$365 ₹34.9K

119.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$224 ₹21.4K

130.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$798 ₹76.3K

147.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$428 ₹41.0K

244.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$449 ₹43.0K

37.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.81

-49.03%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mohali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $134 in Mohali. 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 38% 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 $14.00 in Mohali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $117 – making Mohali 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 Mohali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 111% more than Mohali, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $616 in Mohali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $61.8 in Mohali. 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $411 in Mohali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mohali costs $411 versus $866 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 Mohali. 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.