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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $332 in Rayagada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $527 in Rayagada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $722 in Rayagada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 181% more than Rayagada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rayagada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Rayagada 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$1.56 ₹149

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$8.21 ₹788

138.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.12 ₹299

81.73%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.06 ₹101

70.75%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.32 ₹30.83

140.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.10 ₹9.11

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.05 ₹197

7.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.13 ₹301

21.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.50 ₹47.78

310.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.54 ₹51.5

179.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.58 ₹56.0

141.38%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.84 ₹80.8

169.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$2.99 ₹287

441.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.76 ₹264

5.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.54 ₹148

74.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.61 ₹58.9

78.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.76 ₹72.6

113.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.36 ₹34.68

305.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.39 ₹37.14

228.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.36 ₹34.44

194.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.58 ₹55.7

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.30 ₹28.65

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.57 ₹342

18.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$8.90 ₹853

105.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.72 ₹165

-5.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.14 ₹301

-7.64%

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

$4.26 ₹409

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.27 ₹25.61

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$7.30 ₹700

636.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.53 ₹51.0

120.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.15 ₹14.04

286.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$2.03 ₹195

17.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.05 ₹101

38.10%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$13.8K ₹1.3M

52.32%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$21.5K ₹2.1M

22.66%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$20.74 ₹1,989

206.89%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.65 ₹350

253.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$5.02 ₹481

308.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$13.89 ₹1,333

180.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$6.56 ₹630

-40.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$2.65 ₹254

148.30%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$48.76 ₹4,677

1507.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,570 ₹150.6K

834.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$22.34 ₹2,143

146.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$21.04 ₹2,018

17.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$30.43 ₹2,919

209.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$31.81 ₹3,051

132.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$123 ₹11.8K

297.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$74.2 ₹7,117

288.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$268 ₹25.7K

232.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$170 ₹16.3K

206.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$876 ₹84.0K

125.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$494 ₹47.4K

192.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$676 ₹64.8K

-10.95%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Rayagada: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Rayagada. 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 12% higher in Rayagada, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Rayagada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $95.0 – making Rayagada 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 Rayagada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 181% more than Rayagada, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $498 in Rayagada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.76 in Rayagada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rayagada, where all-in costs run around $332, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Rayagada 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. Rayagada costs $332 versus $932 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 Rayagada. 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.