Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Raiganj

For one person, living is cheaper in Raiganj: $360 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Raiganj, India
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Raiganj
🇮🇳 India
$360
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Raiganj

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Raiganj actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $360 in Raiganj, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Raiganj $360

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $568 in Raiganj, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Raiganj $568

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $776 in Raiganj, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Raiganj $776

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Raiganj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$2.35 ₹223
-4.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$11.78 ₹1,119
61.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$3.88 ₹369
43.04%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.48 ₹140
12.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.43 ₹40.80
48.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.13 ₹12.15
138.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$1.69 ₹160
39.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$2.59 ₹246
41.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$0.63 ₹59.5
209.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.41 ₹38.83
251.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.72 ₹68.2
84.72%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$0.79 ₹75.2
188.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$3.90 ₹370
321.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$3.12 ₹297
-10.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.69 ₹160
39.05%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$0.69 ₹65.7
40.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$0.92 ₹87.6
73.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.52 ₹49.18
188.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.30 ₹28.12
326.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.40 ₹37.52
175.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.50 ₹47.82
42.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.34 ₹31.87
44.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$4.32 ₹411
-4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$6.98 ₹663
151.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.41 ₹134
14.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.88 ₹273
-3.47%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.24 ₹497
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.20 ₹19.27
335.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$7.67 ₹728
605.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$0.75 ₹70.9
54.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.24 ₹22.54
120.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$1.58 ₹150
53.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.08 ₹102
34.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$12.7K ₹1.2M
65.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$17.9K ₹1.7M
50.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$37.62 ₹3,572
65.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$3.78 ₹358
221.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$6.63 ₹629
203.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$12.46 ₹1,183
199.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$5.75 ₹546
-34.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$3.21 ₹304
102.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$41.16 ₹3,907
1688.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$1,323 ₹125.6K
1016.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$20.76 ₹1,971
157.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$23.93 ₹2,272
2.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$34.16 ₹3,243
167.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$27.54 ₹2,614
161.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$125 ₹11.8K
287.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$73.2 ₹6,949
322.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$263 ₹25.0K
282.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$160 ₹15.2K
294.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$799 ₹75.8K
195.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$565 ₹53.6K
181.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Raiganj: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Raiganj
$73 76.3% $236
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Raiganj
$97 58.6% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Raiganj
$48 55.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Raiganj
$48 49.2% $46
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Raiganj
$64 17.5% $14
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Raiganj
$10 83% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Raiganj
$19 62.5% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Raiganj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $12 in Raiganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $97 – making Raiganj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Raiganj
🕒 Local time
15:11 3:11 PM
13:41 1:41 PM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
183,600
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.94 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Raiganj 1,350 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Raiganj

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Raiganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Raiganj?
Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Raiganj, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Raiganj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $539 in Raiganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Raiganj?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Raiganj, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $125 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Raiganj?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $41 in Raiganj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Raiganj?
Groceries cost about 141% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Raiganj?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Raiganj, where all-in costs run around $360, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Raiganj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Raiganj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Raiganj is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 62% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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