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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $359 in Rayagada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $575 in Rayagada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $792 in Rayagada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Rayagada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rayagada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rayagada 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.76 ₹168

15.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$9.06 ₹864

106.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.41 ₹325

130.50%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.14 ₹109

78.07%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.38 ₹36.51

110.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.12 ₹11.79

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.15 ₹205

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.47 ₹331

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.52 ₹49.38

232.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.55 ₹52.7

185.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.67 ₹63.8

79.10%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.98 ₹93.1

101.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$3.25 ₹310

399.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.97 ₹284

3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.76 ₹168

57.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.68 ₹64.9

72.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.82 ₹78.7

108.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.55 ₹52.5

189.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.39 ₹37.34

256.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.59 ₹55.8

96.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.49 ₹46.73

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.35 ₹33.53

48.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.17 ₹398

11.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$8.79 ₹839

102.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.90 ₹181

-5.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.76 ₹358

-11.17%

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

$4.75 ₹453

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.30 ₹28.83

203.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.55 ₹815

118.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.61 ₹58.0

131.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.29 ₹219

254.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.17 ₹112

5.13%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$15.3K ₹1.5M

39.87%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$24.0K ₹2.3M

-9.25%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$22.83 ₹2,178

212.44%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.69 ₹352

279.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$5.86 ₹559

205.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$16.12 ₹1,538

153.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.99 ₹667

-1.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$3.14 ₹300

82.17%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$67.1 ₹6,396

359.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,757 ₹167.6K

735.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$29.88 ₹2,849

86.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$27.83 ₹2,655

-6.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$38.19 ₹3,643

122.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$36.73 ₹3,503

93.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$125 ₹11.9K

239.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$76.8 ₹7,327

215.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$269 ₹25.7K

196.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$182 ₹17.4K

178.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,046 ₹99.8K

83.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$505 ₹48.2K

189.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$596 ₹56.8K

-0.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

-39.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Rayagada: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 0% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Rayagada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $104 – 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 138% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $538 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $67.1 in Rayagada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 135% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $359 in Rayagada, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rayagada costs $359 versus $852 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.