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 $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Pune, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $903 in Pune, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,235 in Pune, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Pune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Pune are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Pune 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.5

$3.95 ₹367

-49.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿584

$17.61 ₹1,634

3.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$5.05 ₹468

51.49%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.5

$2.33 ₹217

-17.60%

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

$0.84 ฿26.97

$0.40 ₹37.37

110.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.42

$0.16 ₹14.59

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.2

$2.34 ₹217

-6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$4.32 ₹400

-12.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.5

$0.76 ₹70.2

115.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.0

$0.57 ₹53.2

184.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.98

$0.82 ₹76.2

40.24%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.2

$1.11 ₹103

74.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿511

$6.72 ₹624

137.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.5

$4.18 ₹388

-25.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿355

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.8

$2.51 ₹233

7.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.80

$0.82 ₹75.8

43.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.7

$1.48 ₹137

15.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$0.69 ₹64.1

133.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.66

$0.57 ₹52.7

143.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.81

$0.61 ₹56.7

88.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.83

$0.73 ₹67.3

-2.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.65

$0.37 ₹34.04

48.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$4.11 ₹381

11.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿605

$8.15 ₹756

131.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

$2.25 ₹209

-19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$3.51 ₹326

-8.55%

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

$6.80 ₹631

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.24

$0.48 ₹44.66

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

$11.81 ₹1,096

59.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.30

$0.49 ₹45.34

187.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿263

$2.36 ₹219

247.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.29

$1.19 ₹110

3.36%

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

$21.2K ฿678.9K

$15.4K ₹1.4M

37.82%

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

$22.3K ฿715.3K

$23.9K ₹2.2M

-6.61%

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

$69.9 ฿2,240

$27.50 ₹2,552

154.07%

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

$14.07 ฿451

$4.64 ₹430

203.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿567

$9.56 ₹887

85.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,328

$18.00 ₹1,670

130.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿215

$7.55 ₹700

-11.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$4.67 ₹433

22.91%

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

$299 ฿9,593

$98.0 ₹9,090

205.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿481.2K

$2,548 ₹236.4K

489.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,758

$33.13 ₹3,074

65.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿845

$31.75 ₹2,946

-17.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,714

$62.9 ₹5,833

34.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,236

$41.28 ₹3,831

68.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$265 ₹24.6K

60.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,718

$179 ₹16.6K

34.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.0K

$610 ₹56.6K

32.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$364 ₹33.7K

37.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

$2,278 ₹211.4K

-11.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

$1,074 ₹99.6K

41.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

$1,183 ₹109.8K

-45.96%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Pune: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $265 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 85% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $18 in Pune. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $134 in Pune – so Pune wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 53% 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 $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $856 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $98.0 in Pune. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 84% 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 $872 in Chiang Mai and $571 in Pune, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pune costs $571 versus $872 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.