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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $323 in Ratlam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Ratlam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $621 in Ratlam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 194% more than Ratlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.12 ₹203

-0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$6.16 ₹589

222.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.70 ₹258

114.44%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.49 ₹142

22.82%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.36 ₹33.95

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.14 ₹13.00

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.06 ₹196

13.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.12 ₹298

18.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.63 ₹59.7

222.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.43 ₹41.37

272.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.70 ₹66.5

102.86%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.92 ₹88.2

136.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.10 ₹487

211.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.05 ₹196

49.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.14 ₹204

22.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.41 ₹39.10

168.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.99 ₹95.1

64.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.41 ₹38.88

273.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.17 ₹16.38

629.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.22 ₹21.03

413.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.22 ₹21.06

236.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.33 ₹31.56

51.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.68 ₹256

59.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.68 ₹734

133.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.58 ₹151

7.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.61 ₹249

11.11%

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

$5.46 ₹522

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.76 ₹73.0

61.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.18 ₹17.03

194.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.30 ₹124

84.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.10 ₹105

30.91%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$21.4K ₹2.0M

-0.93%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$23.1K ₹2.2M

18.03%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$26.97 ₹2,576

140.75%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$4.32 ₹413

209.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$5.36 ₹512

288.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$5.38 ₹514

651.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.19 ₹305

110.34%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$67.9 ₹6,484

1059.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$999 ₹95.4K

1413.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$7.59 ₹725

640.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$8.68 ₹829

187.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$15.81 ₹1,510

486.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$26.69 ₹2,550

181.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$123 ₹11.7K

293.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$83.7 ₹7,992

243.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$158 ₹15.1K

476.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$130 ₹12.4K

308.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,301 ₹219.8K

-13.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$682 ₹65.2K

112.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$387 ₹36.9K

56.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.73

-36.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ratlam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Ratlam. 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 57% 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 $6.00 in Ratlam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $96.0 – making Ratlam 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 Ratlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 194% more than Ratlam, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $485 in Ratlam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $6.00 in Ratlam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 152% 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 Ratlam, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ratlam 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. Ratlam costs $323 versus $950 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 Ratlam. 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.