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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $428 in Mohali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $698 in Mohali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $968 in Mohali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 121% more than Mohali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mohali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Mohali 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.08 ₹291

-32.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$13.89 ₹1,313

41.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.81 ₹360

48.29%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.35 ₹222

-22.98%

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

$0.71 ฿23.46

$0.38 ₹35.84

86.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.39

$0.19 ₹18.19

68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.04 ₹193

9.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿120

$3.07 ₹290

18.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.73 ₹69.1

168.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.42

$0.51 ₹48.05

194.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.96

$0.76 ₹71.7

76.32%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$0.99 ₹93.5

128.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$4.47 ₹422

263.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.2

$3.57 ₹337

-17.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.98 ₹187

29.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.75

$0.74 ₹70.1

43.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.05 ₹99.3

53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$0.68 ₹64.2

123.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.80

$0.31 ₹29.27

309.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.09

$0.36 ₹34.19

197.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.70

$0.61 ₹57.7

18.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.73

$0.29 ₹27.86

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.17 ₹488

-18.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿588

$8.53 ₹806

109.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.73 ₹163

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.67 ₹253

6.37%

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

$6.45 ₹609

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.45

$0.55 ₹52.3

69.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,772

$5.20 ₹491

935.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.61

$0.98 ₹92.7

25.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.97

$0.27 ₹25.74

114.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.8

$1.61 ₹153

50.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.46

$1.05 ₹99.5

34.29%

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

$21.4K ฿705.5K

$12.4K ₹1.2M

72.85%

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

$27.3K ฿899.3K

$21.9K ₹2.1M

24.75%

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

$63.7 ฿2,095

$43.54 ₹4,114

46.23%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$4.29 ₹406

199.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$6.78 ₹640

198.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,275

$14.53 ₹1,373

166.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$20.74 ₹1,959

-80.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$3.08 ₹291

118.83%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$59.8 ₹5,648

1201.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.7K

$2,079 ₹196.4K

602.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,786

$25.51 ₹2,410

112.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$29.39 ₹2,777

-13.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,104

$57.4 ₹5,424

64.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,416

$46.49 ₹4,392

57.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$123 ₹11.6K

298.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,518

$69.9 ₹6,601

314.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$335 ₹31.6K

167.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$203 ₹19.2K

155.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$803 ₹75.9K

143.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$437 ₹41.3K

237.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$452 ₹42.7K

33.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.6

-35.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mohali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 33% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Mohali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $111 – 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 121% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $642 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $59.8 in Mohali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 116% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mohali, where all-in costs run around $428, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Mohali 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. Mohali costs $428 versus $947 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.