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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $423 in Patna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $656 in Patna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $890 in Patna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Patna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Patna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Patna 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.32 ₹222

-16.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.00 ₹957

86.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.54 ₹339

120.90%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.40 ₹134

39.29%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.37 ₹35.24

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.14 ₹13.11

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.33 ₹223

-8.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$9.20 ₹880

-59.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.65 ₹61.9

163.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.45 ₹43.09

262.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.58 ₹55.1

96.55%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.15 ₹110

67.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.90 ₹660

134.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.66 ₹255

17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.34 ₹128

105.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.82 ₹78.2

47.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.11 ₹106

45.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.55 ₹52.9

189.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.35 ₹33.67

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.51 ₹49.16

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.48 ₹45.55

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.34 ₹32.82

55.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.59 ₹248

81.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$6.23 ₹596

199.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.00 ₹192

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.32 ₹222

39.22%

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

$6.66 ₹638

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.37 ₹35.01

143.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$4.71 ₹451

307.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.17 ₹112

20.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.27 ₹217

245.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.23 ₹117

3.25%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$15.3K ₹1.5M

38.71%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$32.9K ₹3.2M

-32.59%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$44.20 ₹4,230

56.27%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.17 ₹303

344.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.23 ₹692

148.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$27.34 ₹2,617

50.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.58 ₹726

-8.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.86 ₹370

53.37%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$49.99 ₹4,784

498.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,834 ₹175.5K

715.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$26.50 ₹2,536

106.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$27.64 ₹2,645

-3.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$41.94 ₹4,014

102.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$37.02 ₹3,543

90.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$123 ₹11.8K

248.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$75.0 ₹7,180

216.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$295 ₹28.3K

171.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$181 ₹17.3K

184.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,289 ₹123.4K

53.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$504 ₹48.2K

192.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$356 ₹34.0K

73.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.05

-44.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Patna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Patna. 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 74% 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 $10.00 in Patna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $106 – making Patna 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 Patna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Patna, 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 $635 in Patna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Patna, 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 $49.99 in Patna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 133% 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 $423 in Patna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Patna costs $423 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 Patna. 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.