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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $565 in Pune, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $908 in Pune, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,251 in Pune, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Pune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pune are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Pune 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$3.96 ₹379

-48.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$17.57 ₹1,680

6.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$5.01 ₹479

56.89%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.23 ₹213

-8.97%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.44 ₹42.10

81.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.17 ₹16.22

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.36 ₹226

-9.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.38 ₹419

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.73 ₹70.0

136.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.61 ₹58.1

157.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.81 ₹77.2

48.15%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.09 ₹104

80.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$6.52 ₹623

148.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.03 ₹386

-24.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.61 ₹250

6.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.87 ₹83.3

34.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.49 ₹142

14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.68 ₹65.1

133.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.60 ₹57.8

131.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.58 ₹55.2

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.76 ₹72.2

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.37 ₹34.91

40.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.02 ₹384

15.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$6.44 ₹616

176.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.25 ₹216

-20.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$3.70 ₹354

-9.73%

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

$6.96 ₹666

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.46 ₹43.59

97.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$11.49 ₹1,099

62.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.45 ₹43.18

213.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$2.31 ₹221

251.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.24 ₹119

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$14.9K ₹1.4M

44.27%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$23.5K ₹2.3M

-7.28%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$27.75 ₹2,654

157.05%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$4.53 ₹433

209.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$9.42 ₹901

90.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$18.06 ₹1,727

126.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$7.22 ₹691

-4.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.55 ₹435

25.71%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$98.7 ₹9,443

212.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,487 ₹237.8K

490.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$33.50 ₹3,204

66.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$31.37 ₹3,000

-16.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$62.6 ₹5,988

35.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$41.47 ₹3,966

71.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$267 ₹25.6K

58.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$178 ₹17.1K

35.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$596 ₹57.0K

33.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$364 ₹34.8K

39.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$2,131 ₹203.8K

-9.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$1,067 ₹102.0K

37.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$1,127 ₹107.8K

-47.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

-45.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Pune: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $267 in Pune. 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 89% higher in Pune, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Pune. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $130 – making Pune 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 Pune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Pune, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $848 in Pune. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pune, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $98.7 in Pune. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 88% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $565 in Pune, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pune costs $565 versus $852 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 Pune. 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.