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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $759 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,766 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Mumbai (Bombay), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mumbai (Bombay) are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$5.31 ₹504

-63.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.21 ₹2,108

-15.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.67 ₹443

69.59%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.62 ₹249

-27.10%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.51 ₹48.04

64.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.15 ₹14.08

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.27 ₹216

-2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.09 ₹388

-7.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.80 ₹75.7

105.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.52 ₹49.64

211.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.82 ₹77.5

43.90%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.09 ₹104

84.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.02 ₹666

126.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.89 ₹369

-22.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.38 ₹226

9.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.80 ₹76.3

52.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.30 ₹123

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.65 ₹61.7

143.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.57 ₹53.7

131.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.63 ₹60.2

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.63 ₹60.1

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.33 ₹31.00

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.00 ₹380

13.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.07 ₹766

125.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.16 ₹205

-15.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.39 ₹322

-4.72%

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

$7.13 ₹677

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.24 ₹22.82

270.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$4.63 ₹440

318.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.34 ₹32.17

297.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.40 ₹133

489.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.22 ₹116

4.10%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$17.3K ₹1.6M

22.56%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.3K ₹2.4M

-11.03%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$50.2 ₹4,764

39.80%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.00 ₹474

175.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$8.79 ₹835

100.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$23.18 ₹2,201

79.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.81 ₹1,121

-44.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.70 ₹446

22.98%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$121 ₹11.5K

153.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$3,385 ₹321.4K

337.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$29.30 ₹2,782

85.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$30.72 ₹2,917

-14.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$55.0 ₹5,225

53.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$39.51 ₹3,751

75.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$694 ₹65.9K

-38.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$359 ₹34.1K

-33.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,797 ₹170.6K

-54.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$821 ₹77.9K

-37.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$6,515 ₹618.6K

-68.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$2,661 ₹252.6K

-42.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$719 ₹68.3K

-11.65%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $694 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 13% 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 – $243 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 12% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,139 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 $306 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 88% 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 $759, than in Chiang Mai at $852. 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 $759 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 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.