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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $329 in Rourkela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $555 in Rourkela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Rourkela, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Rourkela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rourkela are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rourkela 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.72 ₹166

13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$8.77 ₹845

109.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.51 ₹435

65.85%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.51 ₹145

33.77%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.30 ₹29.17

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.16 ₹15.14

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.74 ₹168

22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.46 ₹333

3.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.58 ₹55.7

184.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.39 ₹38.00

302.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.41 ₹39.84

190.24%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.91 ₹87.7

113.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$2.93 ₹283

452.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.78 ₹268

7.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.77 ₹170

53.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.75 ₹72.4

56.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.67 ₹64.7

152.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.33 ₹32.04

384.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.27 ₹26.24

411.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.27 ₹26.31

344.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.43 ₹41.84

55.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.36 ₹34.27

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.18 ₹404

11.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.94 ₹766

121.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.10 ₹203

-11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.06 ₹295

7.84%

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

$9.04 ₹872

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.15 ₹14.16

486.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$8.54 ₹824

126.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.15 ₹111

18.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.38 ₹229

244.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.20 ₹116

1.67%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$10.6K ₹1.0M

101.82%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$17.2K ₹1.7M

31.21%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$26.51 ₹2,556

166.58%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.28 ₹316

328.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$8.68 ₹837

101.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$15.95 ₹1,538

164.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.16 ₹690

-3.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.54 ₹341

67.23%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$83.3 ₹8,035

270.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,063 ₹198.9K

621.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$25.85 ₹2,493

115.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$29.54 ₹2,849

-11.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$40.90 ₹3,944

102.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$32.26 ₹3,111

118.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$123 ₹11.8K

252.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$47.15 ₹4,547

406.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$274 ₹26.4K

200.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$182 ₹17.6K

180.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,079 ₹104.1K

77.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$453 ₹43.6K

224.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$823 ₹79.4K

-29.62%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rourkela: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 42% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Rourkela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $95.0 – 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 162% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $493 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.3 in Rourkela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 156% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $329 in Rourkela, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rourkela costs $329 versus $861 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.