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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $384 in Purnia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $603 in Purnia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $821 in Purnia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Purnia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Purnia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Purnia 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$2.30 ₹220

-11.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$9.64 ₹922

94.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$3.56 ₹341

120.79%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.41 ₹135

43.97%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.37 ₹35.16

116.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.17 ₹16.11

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.31 ₹221

-7.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.10 ₹297

18.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.69 ₹66.2

150.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.45 ₹43.14

248.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.49 ₹46.65

144.90%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.11 ₹106

77.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$3.94 ₹377

311.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.29 ₹219

33.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.38 ₹132

100.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.84 ₹80.1

39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.06 ₹102

61.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.58 ₹55.7

174.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.34 ₹32.73

308.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.24 ₹22.96

383.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.52 ₹49.99

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.34 ₹32.72

52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.49 ₹238

86.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$6.21 ₹594

186.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.11 ₹202

-15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.39 ₹229

39.75%

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

$6.63 ₹634

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.30 ₹28.94

203.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$8.46 ₹809

120.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.14 ₹109

23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$2.29 ₹219

254.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.23 ₹118

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$15.4K ₹1.5M

39.41%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$32.6K ₹3.1M

-32.99%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$43.98 ₹4,206

62.19%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$3.30 ₹316

324.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$7.55 ₹722

137.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$15.76 ₹1,507

159.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.87 ₹657

0.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.68 ₹352

55.43%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$50.4 ₹4,823

511.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$1,828 ₹174.8K

702.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$26.48 ₹2,532

110.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$27.38 ₹2,618

-4.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$42.15 ₹4,031

101.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$37.67 ₹3,602

88.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$126 ₹12.0K

237.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$76.7 ₹7,338

215.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$272 ₹26.0K

193.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$180 ₹17.3K

180.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,007 ₹96.4K

90.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$520 ₹49.7K

181.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$318 ₹30.4K

86.96%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Purnia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Purnia. 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 87% 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 Purnia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $96.0 – making Purnia 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 Purnia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Purnia, 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 $576 in Purnia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Purnia, 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 $50.4 in Purnia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 155% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $384 in Purnia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Purnia costs $384 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 Purnia. 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.