Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur

For one person, living is cheaper in North Lakhimpur: $366 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
18

Cost of Living Index in North Lakhimpur
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North Lakhimpur Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

North Lakhimpur

🇮🇳 India

$366

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in North Lakhimpur

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in North Lakhimpur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $366 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
North Lakhimpur $366

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $586 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
North Lakhimpur $586

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $806 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
North Lakhimpur $806

Chiang Mai costs about 156% more than North Lakhimpur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, North Lakhimpur 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$2.16 ₹202

-1.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿624

$10.45 ₹981

78.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$3.57 ₹335

56.86%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.59 ₹150

4.40%

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

$0.65 ฿21.69

$0.41 ₹38.11

58.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.22

$0.15 ₹14.12

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

$1.79 ₹168

29.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.82 ₹264

30.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$0.68 ₹63.7

197.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.21

$0.44 ₹41.45

220.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.67

$0.64 ₹60.4

117.19%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$0.84 ₹79.1

182.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$4.42 ₹415

273.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.5

$2.91 ₹273

-8.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.4

$1.91 ₹179

25.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.91

$0.64 ₹60.0

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.95 ₹88.9

74.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$0.49 ₹45.55

218.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.50

$0.36 ₹33.34

244.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.44

$0.38 ₹35.47

186.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.54

$0.47 ₹43.76

61.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.24

$0.29 ₹27.06

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$5.00 ₹470

-17.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿601

$7.15 ₹672

150.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.66 ₹156

-2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.6

$2.61 ₹245

8.05%

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

$4.95 ₹465

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.33

$0.21 ₹19.71

342.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,773

$7.23 ₹679

631.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.45

$0.81 ₹75.9

45.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$0.25 ₹23.47

-32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$1.57 ₹147

15.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.38

$1.12 ₹105

31.25%

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

$21.0K ฿704.5K

$11.0K ₹1.0M

90.40%

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

$26.5K ฿889.1K

$19.8K ₹1.9M

34.19%

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

$62.6 ฿2,098

$34.51 ₹3,241

81.28%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$3.29 ₹309

252.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$6.44 ₹605

215.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,270

$14.21 ₹1,334

166.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$6.62 ₹621

-44.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$3.00 ₹282

117.00%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$46.59 ₹4,375

1460.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿555.7K

$1,446 ₹135.8K

1046.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,795

$22.05 ₹2,070

142.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$23.99 ₹2,253

3.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,031

$38.58 ₹3,622

134.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,413

$28.25 ₹2,653

154.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$122 ₹11.4K

294.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$77.1 ₹7,242

301.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$271 ₹25.5K

290.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$188 ₹17.6K

250.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

$936 ₹87.9K

158.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.9K

$530 ₹49.7K

203.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$464 ₹43.5K

28.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for North Lakhimpur: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

North Lakhimpur

$77 21.1% 75.1% $233

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

North Lakhimpur

$100 27.2% 57.9% $137

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

North Lakhimpur

$51 13.9% 53.1% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

North Lakhimpur

$44 12.1% 53.2% $50

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

North Lakhimpur

$64 17.5% 16.6% $13

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

North Lakhimpur

$10 2.8% 82.7% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

North Lakhimpur

$20 5.5% 60.3% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 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 28% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in North Lakhimpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $100 – making North Lakhimpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 North Lakhimpur

🕒 Local time

02:07 2:07 AM

00:37 12:37 AM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

50,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.65 USD

1,000 INR = 9.48 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 93.9 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 105 INR (1,000 INR = 9.48 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai North Lakhimpur 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
North Lakhimpur

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 156% more than North Lakhimpur, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $549 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $47 in North Lakhimpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 138% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $366 in North Lakhimpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward North Lakhimpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with North Lakhimpur. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.