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 $766 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,262 in Mumbai (Bombay), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,757 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 36% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$5.16 ₹492

-60.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$21.87 ₹2,086

-14.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.70 ₹448

67.23%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.63 ₹251

-22.81%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.47 ₹45.27

70.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.19 ₹17.73

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.29 ₹218

-6.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.17 ₹398

-11.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.73 ₹69.6

136.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.48 ₹45.80

227.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.83 ₹79.6

44.58%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.05 ₹100.0

87.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$7.06 ₹673

129.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.79 ₹361

-19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.31 ₹220

19.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.81 ₹77.1

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.26 ₹120

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.69 ₹65.8

130.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.52 ₹49.98

167.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.64 ₹61.0

81.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.68 ₹65.3

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.35 ₹33.41

48.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.14 ₹394

12.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$8.41 ₹802

111.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.11 ₹201

-15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.43 ₹328

-2.62%

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

$6.96 ₹664

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.24 ₹22.96

279.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$4.52 ₹431

312.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.33 ₹31.79

327.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.43 ₹136

467.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.23 ₹118

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$17.2K ₹1.6M

24.87%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$24.7K ₹2.4M

-11.62%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$50.0 ₹4,773

42.55%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.84 ₹462

189.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$8.88 ₹847

101.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$23.13 ₹2,205

76.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$12.04 ₹1,148

-42.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.60 ₹439

24.35%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$119 ₹11.4K

158.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$3,313 ₹316.0K

343.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$29.89 ₹2,851

86.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$30.14 ₹2,874

-13.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$55.7 ₹5,312

52.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$40.93 ₹3,904

73.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$702 ₹67.0K

-39.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$362 ₹34.5K

-33.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,775 ₹169.3K

-55.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$845 ₹80.6K

-40.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$6,137 ₹585.3K

-68.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$2,570 ₹245.1K

-43.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$767 ₹73.2K

-22.46%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $702 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 29% 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 – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $129 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,149 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $119 in Mumbai (Bombay). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 90% 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 $766, 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 $766 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.