Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rayagada

For one person, living is cheaper in Rayagada: $329 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
16

Cost of Living Index in Rayagada
Learn more

Rayagada Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Rayagada

🇮🇳 India

$329

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Rayagada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $329 in Rayagada, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Rayagada $329

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $529 in Rayagada, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Rayagada $529

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $729 in Rayagada, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Rayagada $729

Chiang Mai costs about 184% more than Rayagada, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Rayagada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rayagada 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$1.56 ₹148

36.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$8.21 ₹776

126.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$3.19 ₹301

75.55%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.04 ₹98.0

59.62%

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$0.30 ₹28.72

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$0.11 ₹10.03

172.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$2.05 ₹193

13.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.01 ₹284

21.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$0.50 ₹47.55

304.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$0.55 ₹52.1

156.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

$0.59 ₹56.1

135.59%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$0.81 ₹76.9

192.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

$2.96 ₹280

458.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

$2.68 ₹253

-0.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

$1.56 ₹147

53.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

$0.61 ₹57.3

70.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

$0.71 ₹67.1

133.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

$0.38 ₹35.78

310.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

$0.36 ₹33.56

244.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

$0.37 ₹34.91

194.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

$0.60 ₹57.1

26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

$0.33 ₹30.74

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$3.74 ₹353

10.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

$8.88 ₹839

101.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$1.64 ₹155

-1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

$3.12 ₹295

-9.62%

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

$4.31 ₹407

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

$0.23 ₹21.77

304.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

$7.22 ₹682

632.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

$0.55 ₹51.9

114.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

$0.17 ₹15.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

$2.06 ₹194

-12.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$1.09 ₹103

34.86%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

87.25%

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

$21.8K ₹2.1M

21.70%

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

$21.06 ₹1,989

197.06%

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

$11.60 ฿388

$3.48 ₹329

233.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

$5.03 ₹475

303.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

$14.29 ₹1,350

165.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$6.42 ₹607

-42.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$2.58 ₹244

152.33%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$48.63 ₹4,594

1394.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

$1,555 ₹146.9K

966.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

$23.28 ₹2,199

129.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

$20.59 ₹1,945

20.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

$30.86 ₹2,915

192.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

$31.20 ₹2,948

130.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

$122 ₹11.5K

294.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$75.7 ₹7,151

309.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

$265 ₹25.0K

299.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

$185 ₹17.5K

255.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

$931 ₹87.9K

159.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

$537 ₹50.7K

199.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$670 ₹63.3K

-11.18%

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Rayagada: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Rayagada

$76 23% 75.6% $234

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Rayagada

$95 28.8% 59.9% $142

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Rayagada

$48 14.5% 56% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Rayagada

$30 9% 68.7% $65

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Rayagada

$52 15.9% 31.5% $24

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Rayagada

$9.5 2.9% 83.8% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Rayagada

$19 5.9% 61.8% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $122 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 13% 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $8 in Rayagada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $95 – making Rayagada the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Rayagada

🕒 Local time

16:08 4:08 PM

14:38 2:38 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

71,208

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.59 USD

1,000 INR = 9.43 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 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 94.47 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Rayagada 1,640 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Rayagada

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 Rayagada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 184% more than Rayagada, 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 $494 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $122 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $49 in Rayagada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 149% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Rayagada, where all-in costs run around $329, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Rayagada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

For expats, Rayagada is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 65% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.