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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $361 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $556 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 164% more than Perinthalmanna, Kerala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Perinthalmanna, Kerala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Perinthalmanna, Kerala 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.05 ₹196

2.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$5.92 ₹566

235.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.88 ₹275

101.04%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.09 ₹104

67.89%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.39 ₹36.99

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.12 ₹11.78

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.35 ₹224

-0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.03 ₹289

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.67 ₹64.2

202.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.47 ₹45.25

240.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.68 ₹64.9

108.82%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.87 ₹82.9

150.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.88 ₹466

226.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.44 ₹233

25.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.90 ₹181

38.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.67 ₹63.7

64.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.99 ₹94.5

64.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.45 ₹43.01

240.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.33 ₹31.10

275.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.40 ₹38.66

182.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.48 ₹45.46

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.29 ₹27.68

72.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.86 ₹464

-11.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.53 ₹719

138.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.66 ₹158

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.76 ₹264

5.07%

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

$4.09 ₹391

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.29 ₹28.07

224.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$6.50 ₹621

750.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.80 ₹76.8

53.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.25 ₹23.68

112.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.63 ₹156

47.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.06 ₹102

35.85%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$12.8K ₹1.2M

66.09%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.8K ₹1.9M

37.69%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$35.46 ₹3,387

83.11%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.30 ₹315

304.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$6.44 ₹615

223.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.91 ₹1,329

190.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.60 ₹631

-40.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.95 ₹282

127.46%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$48.29 ₹4,614

1529.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,402 ₹134.0K

978.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$22.31 ₹2,131

152.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$22.63 ₹2,162

10.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$38.07 ₹3,637

143.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$28.02 ₹2,677

168.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$126 ₹12.0K

284.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$72.9 ₹6,966

294.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$269 ₹25.7K

238.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$175 ₹16.7K

203.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$951 ₹90.8K

108.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$447 ₹42.7K

224.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$268 ₹25.6K

126.26%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Perinthalmanna, Kerala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 126% 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 $6.00 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $100 – 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 164% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $541 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.29 in Perinthalmanna, Kerala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 142% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, where all-in costs run around $361, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Perinthalmanna, Kerala 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. Perinthalmanna, Kerala costs $361 versus $950 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.