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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $488 in Raipur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $709 in Raipur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $930 in Raipur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Raipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Raipur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Raipur 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.67 ₹252

-22.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$15.86 ₹1,498

23.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.26 ₹402

32.63%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.37 ₹129

32.12%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.41 ₹38.57

73.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.17 ₹16.12

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.40 ₹133

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.71 ₹256

33.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.68 ₹63.9

188.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.63 ₹59.2

138.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.63 ₹59.2

112.70%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.93 ₹87.6

143.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$11.25 ₹1,063

44.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.76 ₹261

6.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.11 ₹199

21.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.62 ₹58.5

70.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.69 ₹65.3

133.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.53 ₹50.5

186.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.48 ₹45.59

164.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.40 ₹37.81

167.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.49 ₹46.53

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.33 ₹31.24

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.04 ₹476

-16.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$10.90 ₹1,030

63.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.32 ₹125

28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.13 ₹202

33.33%

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

$5.74 ₹542

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.30 ₹28.73

210.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$5.21 ₹492

933.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.02 ₹96.4

20.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.31 ₹29.18

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.03 ₹97.3

134.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.04 ₹98.7

35.58%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$14.4K ₹1.4M

48.62%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$23.3K ₹2.2M

17.20%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$38.12 ₹3,602

67.03%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$3.08 ₹291

317.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$5.68 ₹536

255.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$21.11 ₹1,995

83.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$6.17 ₹583

-35.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$6.26 ₹592

7.67%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$64.3 ₹6,077

1109.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,140 ₹107.7K

1182.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$23.22 ₹2,194

133.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$23.73 ₹2,242

7.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$63.1 ₹5,957

49.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$31.81 ₹3,005

130.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$85.3 ₹8,055

474.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$145 ₹13.7K

99.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$278 ₹26.3K

220.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$157 ₹14.8K

230.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$727 ₹68.7K

169.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$349 ₹33.0K

322.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$249 ₹23.6K

141.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.33

-50.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Raipur: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $85.3 in Raipur. 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 142% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Raipur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $127 – making Raipur 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 Raipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Raipur, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $732 in Raipur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Raipur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $64.3 in Raipur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 89% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Raipur, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Raipur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raipur costs $488 versus $947 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 Raipur. 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.