😐A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $376 in Raiganj, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $601 in Raiganj, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $827 in Raiganj, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 125% more than Raiganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Raiganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Raiganj72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.1
$2.36₹223
-16.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿603
$10.53₹993
74.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿258
$3.71₹350
112.13%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$1.55₹146
25.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.41₹38.32
107.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.61
$0.17₹16.34
88.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿70.2
$1.69₹160
26.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿121
$3.13₹296
17.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿54.4
$0.46₹43.08
260.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿51.1
$0.46₹42.96
239.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.95
$0.66₹62.6
80.30%
Eggs
$1.99฿65.2
$0.96₹91.0
107.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿532
$4.86₹458
234.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿104
$3.01₹284
5.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿355
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿87.0
$2.01₹189
31.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿40.00
$0.69₹64.7
76.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿54.1
$0.97₹92.0
70.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.7
$0.49₹46.60
216.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.53
$0.39₹36.49
241.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.75
$0.45₹42.07
168.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.22
$0.49₹45.90
38.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.54
$0.34₹32.20
67.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿154
$3.97₹375
17.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿557
$7.88₹744
115.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.71₹161
6.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿104
$2.80₹264
13.57%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.03₹474
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.70
$0.30₹28.59
203.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿614
$8.86₹836
111.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿46.18
$0.83₹78.3
69.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.88
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿267
$1.48₹140
450.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.88
$1.17₹110
9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿715.2K
$14.0K₹1.3M
56.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿734.1K
$21.5K₹2.0M
4.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,310
$39.04₹3,682
80.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿460
$3.41₹321
312.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿578
$7.35₹693
140.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,353
$15.62₹1,473
164.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿222
$7.21₹680
-6.24%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿195
$2.95₹278
102.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,928
$51.3₹4,839
490.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿490.2K
$1,554₹146.6K
862.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,793
$24.03₹2,266
127.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿861
$24.83₹2,342
5.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,811
$43.67₹4,119
96.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,284
$31.38₹2,959
122.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$122₹11.5K
251.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,834
$76.2₹7,190
213.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.6K
$279₹26.3K
190.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.7K
$178₹16.8K
186.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿66.4K
$887₹83.6K
128.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿49.2K
$577₹54.4K
160.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Raiganj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.4K
$323₹30.4K
92.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
14.5
-65.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Raiganj: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Raiganj. 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 93% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Raiganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $104 – making Raiganj 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 Raiganj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Raiganj?
Chiang Mai costs about 125% more than Raiganj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $564 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Raiganj?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.3 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 133% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Raiganj?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $376 in Raiganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Raiganj?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raiganj costs $376 versus $848 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Raiganj?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Raiganj?
If budget matters most, go with Raiganj. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared