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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $342 in Moradabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $578 in Moradabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $814 in Moradabad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Moradabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Moradabad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Moradabad 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.08 ₹198

0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$13.19 ₹1,260

50.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.23 ₹309

79.26%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.79 ₹171

2.23%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.46 ₹44.19

69.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.18 ₹17.04

72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.08 ₹199

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.85 ₹177

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.71 ₹67.9

185.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.43 ₹40.62

272.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.86 ₹81.8

65.12%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.92 ₹88.1

136.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.89 ₹371

309.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.43 ₹327

-10.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.64 ₹157

60.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.69 ₹65.6

59.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.49 ₹46.93

232.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.42 ₹40.40

264.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.29 ₹27.55

327.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.45 ₹42.97

151.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.33 ₹32.00

124.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.27 ₹25.89

85.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.97 ₹475

-13.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$6.26 ₹598

187.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.92 ₹183

-11.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.12 ₹298

-7.05%

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

$3.41 ₹326

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.20 ₹19.09

370.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$5.37 ₹513

929.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.09 ₹104

12.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.11 ₹10.64

381.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$2.12 ₹203

13.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.07 ₹102

34.58%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$15.1K ₹1.4M

40.56%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$24.1K ₹2.3M

13.21%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$34.24 ₹3,271

89.63%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$4.48 ₹428

197.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$7.79 ₹745

167.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.23 ₹1,264

205.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$10.65 ₹1,017

-62.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.66 ₹254

152.26%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$53.6 ₹5,124

1367.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,367 ₹130.6K

1005.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$20.75 ₹1,982

170.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$28.44 ₹2,717

-12.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$31.36 ₹2,996

195.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$34.10 ₹3,258

120.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$76.9 ₹7,342

529.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$49.61 ₹4,740

479.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$160 ₹15.3K

467.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$171 ₹16.3K

210.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,007 ₹96.2K

96.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$635 ₹60.7K

128.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$350 ₹33.4K

73.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.27

-23.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Moradabad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $76.9 in Moradabad. 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 73% 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 $13.00 in Moradabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $98.0 – making Moradabad 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 Moradabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Moradabad, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $513 in Moradabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $53.6 in Moradabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 146% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Moradabad, where all-in costs run around $342, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Moradabad 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. Moradabad costs $342 versus $950 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 Moradabad. 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.