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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $377 in Raiganj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $610 in Raiganj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $843 in Raiganj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Raiganj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Raiganj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Raiganj 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.29 ₹217

-14.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$10.62 ₹1,009

77.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.75 ₹356

111.20%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.52 ₹145

25.66%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.41 ₹38.80

104.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.15 ₹14.61

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.79 ₹170

23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.09 ₹293

22.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.43 ₹40.46

281.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.48 ₹46.03

237.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.66 ₹63.1

78.79%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.95 ₹89.7

111.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.11 ₹486

210.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.08 ₹292

-2.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.05 ₹194

27.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.73 ₹69.6

67.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.93 ₹88.0

82.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.54 ₹51.6

192.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.38 ₹36.09

247.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.45 ₹42.74

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.45 ₹42.79

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.35 ₹32.80

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.92 ₹372

15.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.04 ₹669

158.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.71 ₹162

7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.88 ₹274

12.15%

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

$5.06 ₹481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₹26.56

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.97 ₹852

116.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.79 ₹74.8

70.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.48 ₹140

457.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.18 ₹112

7.63%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

50.53%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.2K ₹2.1M

1.26%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$39.09 ₹3,711

79.46%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.54 ₹336

288.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.50 ₹712

134.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.06 ₹1,525

158.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.20 ₹684

-8.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.94 ₹279

96.60%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$52.2 ₹4,957

486.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,548 ₹147.0K

857.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$24.68 ₹2,343

120.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.40 ₹2,411

2.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$42.10 ₹3,997

100.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$31.69 ₹3,009

119.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$125 ₹11.9K

238.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$76.8 ₹7,291

210.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$276 ₹26.2K

198.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$178 ₹16.9K

188.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,069 ₹101.5K

91.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$560 ₹53.1K

172.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$323 ₹30.6K

96.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.5

-65.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Raiganj: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 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.

Salaries run about 97% 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 $11.00 in Raiganj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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

Chiang Mai costs about 126% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $565 in Raiganj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.2 in Raiganj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 135% 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 $377 in Raiganj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raiganj costs $377 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 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.