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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $300 in Rourkela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $525 in Rourkela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $749 in Rourkela, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 217% more than Rourkela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rourkela are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rourkela 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.61 ₹154

30.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.46 ₹1,000

89.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.16 ₹398

39.18%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.38 ₹132

32.61%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.25 ₹23.80

212.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.14 ₹13.24

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.54 ₹148

51.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.07 ₹294

20.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.48 ₹45.85

322.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.36 ₹34.01

344.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.37 ₹35.35

283.78%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.86 ₹81.7

153.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$2.59 ₹247

514.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.65 ₹253

15.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.54 ₹147

70.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.64 ₹61.4

71.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.62 ₹58.9

162.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.28 ₹26.74

446.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.23 ₹21.88

439.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.22 ₹20.96

413.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.50 ₹47.72

48.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.30 ₹28.47

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.01 ₹479

-14.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.00 ₹764

124.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.99 ₹190

-14.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.53 ₹242

14.62%

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

$7.11 ₹679

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.18 ₹17.40

422.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.11 ₹679

677.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.06 ₹101

16.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.20 ₹19.06

165.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$2.15 ₹206

11.63%

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

$9,432 ₹901.1K

124.70%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$15.9K ₹1.5M

71.65%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$23.70 ₹2,264

173.97%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.21 ₹307

315.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$7.08 ₹676

194.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.93 ₹1,331

190.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.40 ₹612

-38.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.08 ₹295

117.86%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$77.0 ₹7,353

922.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,284 ₹218.3K

561.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$24.07 ₹2,300

133.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$23.93 ₹2,286

4.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$36.87 ₹3,522

151.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$32.25 ₹3,081

132.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$120 ₹11.5K

302.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$42.60 ₹4,070

574.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$269 ₹25.7K

237.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$171 ₹16.4K

209.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$974 ₹93.1K

103.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$511 ₹48.8K

184.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$826 ₹78.9K

-26.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.17

-39.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Rourkela: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $120 in Rourkela. 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 37% higher in Rourkela, 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 $10.00 in Rourkela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $87.0 – making Rourkela 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 Rourkela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 217% more than Rourkela, 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 $450 in Rourkela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.0 in Rourkela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rourkela, where all-in costs run around $300, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Rourkela 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. Rourkela costs $300 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 Rourkela. 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.