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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $356 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $549 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 142% more than Rajahmundry, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rajahmundry are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rajahmundry 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.44 ₹138

36.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.40 ₹1,098

60.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.24 ₹408

76.42%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.36 ₹131

48.53%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.36 ₹34.32

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.12 ₹11.70

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.98 ₹191

8.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.30 ₹318

8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.80 ₹77.0

106.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.52 ₹50.1

201.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$0.63 ₹60.9

88.89%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.86 ₹82.7

125.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$5.33 ₹513

203.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.96 ₹285

1.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.02 ₹98.3

165.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.55 ₹53.1

112.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.97 ₹93.4

74.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.50 ₹47.86

220.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.42 ₹40.13

228.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.46 ₹44.05

160.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.45 ₹43.37

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.30 ₹28.73

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.34 ₹226

98.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.25 ₹505

235.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.36 ₹131

36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.77 ₹170

86.44%

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

$2.98 ₹287

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.36 ₹34.74

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$8.69 ₹837

122.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.17 ₹113

16.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.38 ₹229

244.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.26 ₹121

-3.17%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$14.9K ₹1.4M

43.70%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$24.4K ₹2.3M

-7.52%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$37.08 ₹3,569

90.59%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$2.58 ₹248

444.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$5.70 ₹548

206.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$8.61 ₹828

389.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.11 ₹684

-3.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.56 ₹247

131.25%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$66.9 ₹6,440

361.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,741 ₹167.6K

754.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$5.79 ₹557

863.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$28.24 ₹2,719

-7.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$38.19 ₹3,677

117.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$35.05 ₹3,374

101.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$115 ₹11.0K

277.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$83.0 ₹7,990

187.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$217 ₹20.9K

279.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$149 ₹14.3K

243.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$963 ₹92.7K

98.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$518 ₹49.9K

183.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$417 ₹40.2K

38.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

-39.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rajahmundry: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $115 in Rajahmundry. 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 39% 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 Rajahmundry. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $93.0 – making Rajahmundry 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 Rajahmundry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 142% more than Rajahmundry, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $535 in Rajahmundry. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $66.9 in Rajahmundry. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 161% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $356 in Rajahmundry, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rajahmundry costs $356 versus $861 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 Rajahmundry. 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.