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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $366 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $578 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $791 in North Lakhimpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than North Lakhimpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and North Lakhimpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, North Lakhimpur 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$2.12 ₹204

-1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$9.21 ₹883

112.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.64 ₹349

55.77%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.67 ₹160

8.38%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.40 ₹38.75

92.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.13 ₹12.78

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.82 ₹175

21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.66 ₹255

42.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.56 ₹53.3

266.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.44 ₹42.22

243.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.65 ₹62.7

115.38%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$0.85 ₹81.7

165.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.99 ₹382

305.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$3.09 ₹296

-6.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.92 ₹184

39.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$0.71 ₹67.9

53.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.97 ₹92.5

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.41 ₹39.58

256.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.30 ₹28.54

326.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.40 ₹38.56

165.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.50 ₹48.22

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.31 ₹29.28

70.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.36 ₹418

-2.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.74 ₹742

136.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.54 ₹148

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.31 ₹222

25.54%

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

$4.26 ₹408

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.27 ₹25.83

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$7.89 ₹757

581.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.76 ₹73.3

53.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.27 ₹25.46

114.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$1.66 ₹160

43.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.05 ₹101

38.10%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$11.5K ₹1.1M

82.29%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$20.9K ₹2.0M

26.23%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$31.18 ₹2,990

104.14%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.78 ₹362

241.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$6.74 ₹647

204.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$13.87 ₹1,330

181.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$7.16 ₹686

-45.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$2.93 ₹281

124.57%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$44.75 ₹4,291

1651.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,244 ₹119.3K

1079.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$23.42 ₹2,245

135.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$23.39 ₹2,242

5.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$37.06 ₹3,553

153.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$27.13 ₹2,601

172.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$120 ₹11.5K

308.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$74.4 ₹7,128

287.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$270 ₹25.9K

229.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$171 ₹16.4K

205.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,024 ₹98.2K

92.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$560 ₹53.7K

157.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$471 ₹45.2K

27.60%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for North Lakhimpur: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $120 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in North Lakhimpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $98.0 – 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 155% 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 $1,398 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $44.75 in North Lakhimpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 North Lakhimpur, where all-in costs run around $366, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In North Lakhimpur 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. North Lakhimpur costs $366 versus $932 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.