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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Raipur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Raipur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,011 in Raipur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Raipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Raipur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Raipur 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.87 ₹275

-32.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.67 ₹1,118

59.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.80 ₹364

105.79%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.66 ₹159

17.47%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.37 ₹35.10

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.21 ₹20.33

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.49 ₹143

42.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.88 ₹275

29.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.74 ₹71.1

131.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.56 ₹53.3

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.63 ₹60.6

80.95%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.88 ₹84.1

119.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$12.51 ₹1,198

29.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.02 ₹289

3.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.90 ₹182

44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.68 ₹64.7

77.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.79 ₹75.8

105.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.56 ₹53.6

183.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.47 ₹44.69

197.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.46 ₹44.00

154.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.55 ₹52.3

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.40 ₹37.90

32.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.15 ₹397

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.88 ₹1,042

71.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.67 ₹159

7.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.18 ₹208

48.17%

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

$6.49 ₹622

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.34 ₹32.46

164.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$5.82 ₹558

230.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.14 ₹109

23.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.14 ₹109

587.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.18 ₹113

7.63%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$16.2K ₹1.5M

31.57%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.2K ₹2.4M

-11.96%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$41.65 ₹3,989

65.83%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.35 ₹321

320.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$6.22 ₹596

189.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$21.56 ₹2,065

90.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.33 ₹414

60.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.72 ₹548

3.50%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$71.4 ₹6,835

319.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,277 ₹122.3K

1071.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$25.69 ₹2,460

112.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.73 ₹2,464

4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$69.0 ₹6,604

23.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$35.51 ₹3,401

98.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$169 ₹16.2K

152.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$146 ₹14.0K

62.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$355 ₹34.0K

125.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$237 ₹22.7K

117.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$715 ₹68.5K

176.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$354 ₹33.9K

316.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$198 ₹19.0K

212.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.08

-44.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Raipur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $169 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 212% 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 $12.00 in Raipur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $135 – 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 66% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $785 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $71.4 in Raipur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 83% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $523 in Raipur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raipur costs $523 versus $866 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.