Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $388 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $608 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $828 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 124% more than North Lakhimpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, North Lakhimpur 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.39 ₹227

-17.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$10.60 ₹1,008

77.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.66 ₹348

111.75%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.53 ₹146

25.49%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.40 ₹38.15

97.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.15 ₹14.50

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.76 ₹168

25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.09 ₹293

18.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.70 ₹66.9

135.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.49 ₹46.13

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.71 ₹67.4

67.61%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.95 ₹90.2

110.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$4.91 ₹467

225.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.98 ₹283

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.00 ₹190

38.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.72 ₹68.9

63.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.95 ₹90.1

72.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.54 ₹51.6

181.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.35 ₹33.59

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.45 ₹42.62

164.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.46 ₹43.31

52.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.34 ₹32.57

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.02 ₹383

13.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.31 ₹600

162.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.78 ₹169

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.76 ₹262

15.94%

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

$5.12 ₹487

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.30 ₹28.63

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.81 ₹838

112.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.77 ₹73.2

76.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.49 ₹141

426.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.15 ₹110

6.96%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$13.8K ₹1.3M

57.19%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$22.1K ₹2.1M

1.86%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$38.59 ₹3,670

82.79%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.52 ₹335

288.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$7.46 ₹710

133.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$15.84 ₹1,506

160.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.93 ₹659

0.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.89 ₹275

99.65%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$51.1 ₹4,863

500.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,512 ₹143.8K

866.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.13 ₹2,295

131.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.31 ₹2,407

3.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$43.23 ₹4,111

98.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$31.18 ₹2,965

131.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$122 ₹11.6K

251.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$75.9 ₹7,221

214.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$278 ₹26.4K

194.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$180 ₹17.1K

184.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,013 ₹96.4K

95.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$519 ₹49.4K

185.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$466 ₹44.3K

32.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for North Lakhimpur: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in North Lakhimpur. 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 33% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in North Lakhimpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $104 – making North Lakhimpur 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 North Lakhimpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 124% more than North Lakhimpur, 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 $581 in North Lakhimpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in North Lakhimpur, 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 $51.1 in North Lakhimpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $388 in North Lakhimpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. North Lakhimpur costs $388 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 North Lakhimpur. 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.