Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rajahmundry

For one person, living is cheaper in Rajahmundry: $318 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
15

Cost of Living Index in Rajahmundry
Learn more

Rajahmundry Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Rajahmundry

🇮🇳 India

$318

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Rajahmundry

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Rajahmundry actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $318 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Rajahmundry $318

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $487 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Rajahmundry $487

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $656 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Rajahmundry $656

Chiang Mai costs about 194% more than Rajahmundry, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Rajahmundry are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rajahmundry 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$1.29 ₹123

73.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$8.36 ₹794

127.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$4.67 ₹444

18.84%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.17 ₹111

42.74%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.33 ₹31.79

93.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.11 ₹10.63

181.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.09 ₹198

12.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.68 ₹255

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.72 ₹68.6

170.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.42 ₹40.05

242.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$0.61 ₹57.6

118.03%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$0.79 ₹74.6

188.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$5.45 ₹517

201.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$2.73 ₹260

1.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$0.93 ₹88.1

152.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$0.55 ₹51.9

76.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.81 ₹76.5

97.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.37 ₹35.30

305.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.37 ₹34.93

245.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$0.40 ₹37.71

175.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.57 ₹53.9

24.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.29 ₹27.74

68.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.16 ₹205

91.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$5.13 ₹487

241.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.29 ₹122

24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.61 ₹152

72.67%

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

$2.67 ₹254

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.31 ₹29.36

180.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$7.15 ₹679

656.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$1.02 ₹97.3

13.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.17 ₹16.47

211.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$2.08 ₹197

16.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.13 ₹107

28.32%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

87.99%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$22.1K ₹2.1M

21.91%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$32.45 ₹3,081

91.59%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$2.26 ₹214

438.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$5.07 ₹481

296.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$8.04 ₹763

364.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$6.50 ₹617

-42.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.31 ₹219

180.95%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$50.4 ₹4,787

1359.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$1,580 ₹150.0K

834.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$5.26 ₹499

914.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$20.83 ₹1,978

18.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$30.37 ₹2,884

201.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$31.77 ₹3,016

126.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$104 ₹9,829

365.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$72.3 ₹6,868

327.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$191 ₹18.1K

426.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$135 ₹12.8K

368.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$929 ₹88.2K

154.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$539 ₹51.2K

194.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$421 ₹40.0K

40.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.58

-35.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Rajahmundry: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Rajahmundry

$72 22.7% 76.6% $237

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Rajahmundry

$88 27.5% 62.6% $147

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Rajahmundry

$40 12.5% 63.5% $69

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Rajahmundry

$40 12.5% 57.9% $55

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Rajahmundry

$56 17.6% 27.8% $22

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Rajahmundry

$10 3.2% 83.2% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Rajahmundry

$13 4% 74.8% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $104 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 40% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Rajahmundry. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $88 – making Rajahmundry the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Rajahmundry

🕒 Local time

14:35 2:35 PM

13:05 1:05 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

341,831

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.53 USD

1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.94 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Rajahmundry 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Rajahmundry

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 194% more than Rajahmundry, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $478 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $104 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $50 in Rajahmundry. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 168% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Rajahmundry – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Rajahmundry. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.