Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Perinthalmanna, Kerala Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Perinthalmanna, Kerala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $390 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $614 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $839 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Perinthalmanna, Kerala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$2.39 ₹228

-17.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$10.53 ₹1,004

78.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$3.66 ₹349

111.75%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$1.26 ₹120

52.38%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$0.42 ₹40.45

88.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.12 ₹11.48

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$2.54 ₹242

-12.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$3.14 ₹299

16.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$0.70 ₹66.3

135.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$0.46 ₹43.45

254.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$0.66 ₹62.6

80.30%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$0.94 ₹89.2

112.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$4.87 ₹464

228.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$3.03 ₹289

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$2.07 ₹198

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$0.67 ₹63.8

76.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$0.95 ₹90.5

72.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$0.53 ₹50.8

186.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$0.38 ₹36.69

263.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$0.42 ₹39.99

183.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$0.48 ₹45.83

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.32 ₹30.08

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$3.98 ₹380

15.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$7.09 ₹676

133.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.68 ₹161

8.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$2.86 ₹273

11.89%

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

$5.12 ₹488

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$0.30 ₹28.71

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$8.87 ₹845

111.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.79 ₹74.9

72.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$1.48 ₹141

429.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.17 ₹111

5.13%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

53.75%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$22.0K ₹2.1M

2.55%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$38.59 ₹3,680

82.79%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$3.45 ₹329

296.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$7.58 ₹723

130.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$15.98 ₹1,524

158.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$7.17 ₹683

-2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$2.89 ₹275

99.65%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$50.8 ₹4,846

504.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$1,543 ₹147.1K

847.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$24.71 ₹2,356

125.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$24.95 ₹2,379

5.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$42.45 ₹4,047

102.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$31.71 ₹3,023

127.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$124 ₹11.8K

247.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$77.0 ₹7,336

210.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$277 ₹26.4K

195.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$180 ₹17.2K

183.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$985 ₹93.9K

101.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$509 ₹48.5K

191.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$264 ₹25.1K

134.73%

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 Perinthalmanna, Kerala: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala. 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 135% 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 Perinthalmanna, Kerala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $105 – making Perinthalmanna, Kerala 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 Perinthalmanna, Kerala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Perinthalmanna, Kerala, 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 $585 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, 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 $50.8 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $390 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Perinthalmanna, Kerala costs $390 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 Perinthalmanna, Kerala. 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.