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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $524 in Nellore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $785 in Nellore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,045 in Nellore, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Nellore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nellore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nellore 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.72 ₹166

13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$10.60 ₹1,021

73.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.69 ₹452

59.49%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.29 ₹220

-11.79%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.32 ₹31.23

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.18 ₹17.77

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.02 ₹194

5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.56 ₹246

40.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.75 ₹72.3

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.56 ₹54.1

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.61 ₹58.6

95.08%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.85 ₹81.8

128.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.49 ₹625

149.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.03 ₹292

-1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.87 ₹180

44.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.82 ₹78.6

42.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.73 ₹69.9

131.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.41 ₹39.10

290.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.37 ₹35.82

272.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.38 ₹36.92

215.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.68 ₹65.4

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.33 ₹32.25

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.79 ₹365

22.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.36 ₹708

139.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.22 ₹214

-16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.13 ₹301

5.43%

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

$4.21 ₹405

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.22 ₹21.09

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$8.95 ₹862

116.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.18 ₹113

15.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.27 ₹218

261.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.22 ₹117

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$17.7K ₹1.7M

20.50%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.3K ₹1.9M

16.44%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$28.10 ₹2,705

151.49%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.75 ₹361

274.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$7.33 ₹706

138.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$15.67 ₹1,509

168.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$2.28 ₹219

201.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.37 ₹228

149.79%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$39.11 ₹3,765

688.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,540 ₹148.2K

866.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$24.60 ₹2,369

126.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.50 ₹2,455

2.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$33.56 ₹3,231

147.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$41.24 ₹3,970

70.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$227 ₹21.9K

90.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$207 ₹19.9K

15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$413 ₹39.7K

99.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$384 ₹37.0K

33.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$668 ₹64.3K

186.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$453 ₹43.6K

223.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$674 ₹64.9K

-14.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nellore: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $227 in Nellore. 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 16% higher in Nellore, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Nellore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $113 – making Nellore 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 Nellore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 64% more than Nellore, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $787 in Nellore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $39.11 in Nellore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $524 in Nellore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nellore costs $524 versus $861 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 Nellore. 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.