Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mumbai (Bombay) Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mumbai (Bombay)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,781 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mumbai (Bombay) are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.13 ₹488

-61.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$22.35 ₹2,126

-15.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.69 ₹446

65.25%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.65 ₹252

-27.55%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.47 ₹44.56

68.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.19 ₹18.19

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.28 ₹217

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.12 ₹392

-11.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.74 ₹70.2

122.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 ₹49.55

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.84 ₹79.5

41.67%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.07 ₹102

86.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$7.05 ₹671

126.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.93 ₹374

-22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.34 ₹223

17.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.77 ₹73.1

53.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.31 ₹125

25.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.64 ₹60.6

137.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.53 ₹50.0

160.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.63 ₹59.7

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.69 ₹65.7

1.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.35 ₹33.47

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.16 ₹396

10.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.59 ₹817

92.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.14 ₹203

-14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.24 ₹309

-1.23%

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

$7.22 ₹686

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.24 ₹22.96

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$4.73 ₹450

295.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.37 ₹34.92

267.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.43 ₹136

448.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.22 ₹116

0.82%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$17.4K ₹1.7M

24.57%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.4K ₹2.4M

-11.26%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$51.2 ₹4,865

37.91%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.03 ₹478

171.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.65 ₹823

101.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$22.99 ₹2,186

79.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.83 ₹1,125

-41.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.53 ₹431

27.37%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$121 ₹11.5K

153.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,356 ₹319.1K

335.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$29.19 ₹2,776

91.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$30.76 ₹2,925

-14.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$56.6 ₹5,385

51.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$41.02 ₹3,901

76.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$695 ₹66.1K

-38.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$350 ₹33.3K

-31.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,778 ₹169.1K

-54.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$835 ₹79.4K

-38.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$6,331 ₹602.1K

-68.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$2,639 ₹251.0K

-43.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$737 ₹70.1K

-15.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.22

-45.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $695 in Mumbai (Bombay). 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 19% higher in Mumbai (Bombay), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Mumbai (Bombay). Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $130 in Mumbai (Bombay) – so Mumbai (Bombay) wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Mumbai (Bombay), 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 $1,171 in Mumbai (Bombay). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mumbai (Bombay), 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 $121 in Mumbai (Bombay). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% 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 Mumbai (Bombay), where all-in costs run around $781, than in Chiang Mai at $869. In Mumbai (Bombay) 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. Mumbai (Bombay) costs $781 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 Mumbai (Bombay). 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.