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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $332 in Rourkela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $560 in Rourkela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $789 in Rourkela, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Rourkela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rourkela are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Rourkela 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.79 ₹171

8.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$8.86 ₹848

110.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.56 ₹436

71.49%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.51 ₹145

29.14%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.30 ₹28.75

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.16 ₹14.88

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.73 ₹166

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.33 ₹319

12.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.57 ₹54.3

200.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.42 ₹40.62

288.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.39 ₹37.03

192.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$0.98 ₹93.4

96.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$2.99 ₹286

442.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.83 ₹271

10.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.71 ₹163

60.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.71 ₹68.0

70.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.72 ₹68.6

125.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.33 ₹31.96

381.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.27 ₹25.88

418.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.25 ₹23.79

368.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.47 ₹45.18

40.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.32 ₹30.97

65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.15 ₹397

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.94 ₹760

135.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.16 ₹206

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.08 ₹295

4.87%

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

$8.88 ₹849

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.19 ₹18.52

373.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.64 ₹827

122.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.19 ₹114

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.37 ₹226

230.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.17 ₹112

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$10.3K ₹984.5K

106.81%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$17.6K ₹1.7M

26.08%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$26.24 ₹2,511

163.22%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.38 ₹324

316.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$8.97 ₹858

100.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$15.61 ₹1,494

163.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.17 ₹686

-2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.53 ₹338

67.71%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$85.4 ₹8,175

250.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$2,052 ₹196.4K

628.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$26.49 ₹2,535

106.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$29.04 ₹2,779

-7.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$40.34 ₹3,860

110.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$32.38 ₹3,098

118.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$126 ₹12.1K

238.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$46.04 ₹4,406

415.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$278 ₹26.6K

188.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$177 ₹17.0K

190.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$885 ₹84.7K

123.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$513 ₹49.1K

187.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$844 ₹80.8K

-26.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

-39.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rourkela: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Rourkela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $96.0 – 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 161% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $498 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $85.4 in Rourkela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 157% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $332 in Rourkela, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rourkela costs $332 versus $866 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.