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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Nellore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $789 in Nellore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,055 in Nellore, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Nellore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Nellore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Nellore 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.76 ₹168

10.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.49 ₹999

77.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.54 ₹432

72.25%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.27 ₹216

-14.10%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.32 ₹30.91

165.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.18 ₹17.62

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.09 ₹199

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.46 ₹234

51.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.80 ₹76.6

113.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 ₹49.15

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.59 ₹56.2

93.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.89 ₹84.6

116.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.46 ₹615

150.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.96 ₹282

5.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.91 ₹182

43.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.87 ₹83.0

39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.77 ₹73.4

110.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.41 ₹38.81

287.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.40 ₹38.40

250.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.42 ₹39.88

178.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.69 ₹65.4

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.36 ₹34.52

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.79 ₹361

23.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.86 ₹558

218.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.27 ₹217

-20.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.27 ₹311

-1.22%

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

$4.19 ₹399

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.24 ₹22.94

275.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.58 ₹817

123.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.19 ₹114

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.29 ₹218

242.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.23 ₹117

3.25%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.7K ₹1.7M

20.36%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$19.1K ₹1.8M

16.06%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$28.03 ₹2,670

146.41%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.73 ₹356

277.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.58 ₹722

137.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$15.35 ₹1,462

167.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$2.39 ₹227

191.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.36 ₹225

150.85%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$38.98 ₹3,713

667.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,599 ₹152.3K

835.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$24.27 ₹2,312

125.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.86 ₹2,464

3.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$32.64 ₹3,109

160.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$39.97 ₹3,807

76.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$231 ₹22.0K

85.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$210 ₹20.0K

12.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$418 ₹39.8K

91.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$380 ₹36.2K

35.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$663 ₹63.1K

198.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$453 ₹43.2K

225.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$635 ₹60.5K

-2.76%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nellore: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $231 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 3% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Nellore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $112 – 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 66% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $785 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $38.98 in Nellore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 120% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $523 in Nellore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nellore costs $523 versus $866 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.