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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $352 in Ratlam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $522 in Ratlam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $691 in Ratlam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 140% more than Ratlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ratlam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Ratlam 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$1.96 ₹184

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$6.80 ₹638

171.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$2.95 ₹277

154.24%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.58 ₹148

22.15%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.36 ₹33.99

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.13 ₹12.42

146.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$2.19 ₹206

-1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$5.30 ₹497

-30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.62 ₹58.2

175.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.48 ₹45.09

225.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.72 ₹67.5

63.89%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.82 ₹77.0

141.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$4.90 ₹460

227.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.31 ₹217

37.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$2.36 ₹222

11.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.45 ₹42.39

160.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.01 ₹94.8

63.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.80 ₹74.9

92.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.16 ₹14.95

762.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.22 ₹20.51

431.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.50 ₹46.76

32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.34 ₹31.71

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.57 ₹335

26.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$5.19 ₹487

252.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.61 ₹151

11.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.24 ₹210

41.96%

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

$5.64 ₹530

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.28 ₹26.01

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.62 ₹809

120.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.70 ₹65.9

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.49 ₹140

442.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.18 ₹111

8.47%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$15.3K ₹1.4M

38.87%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$19.9K ₹1.9M

8.82%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$28.76 ₹2,700

140.61%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.96 ₹371

252.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$5.89 ₹553

204.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$5.91 ₹555

615.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$6.90 ₹648

-3.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$3.42 ₹321

73.10%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$62.3 ₹5,849

380.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,092 ₹102.5K

1259.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$7.91 ₹743

610.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$9.39 ₹881

186.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$17.64 ₹1,656

381.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$29.04 ₹2,726

147.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$136 ₹12.7K

220.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$92.2 ₹8,655

160.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$175 ₹16.4K

356.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$144 ₹13.5K

247.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$969 ₹91.0K

105.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$517 ₹48.5K

196.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$401 ₹37.6K

56.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

-45.05%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ratlam: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $136 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $7 in Ratlam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $96 – 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 140% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $528 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $62.3 in Ratlam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 154% 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 $845 in Chiang Mai and $352 in Ratlam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ratlam costs $352 versus $845 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.