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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 113.2% more expensive than Salem without rent, and 133.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 105.6% more expensive than Salem without rent, and 122.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$2.34 ₹217
-14.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$8.36 ₹776
118.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$4.52 ₹420
69.25%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.30 ₹121
47.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.49 ₹45.82
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.22 ₹20.36
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.70 ₹158
28.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$5.27 ₹490
-28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.58 ₹53.9
182.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.40 ₹36.98
305.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$0.68 ₹63.2
69.12%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$0.82 ₹76.2
136.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$9.34 ₹868
70.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$2.72 ₹252
13.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$1.99 ₹185
36.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$0.71 ₹66.4
66.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.52 ₹141
12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$0.42 ₹39.02
283.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.41 ₹37.79
239.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$0.48 ₹44.22
139.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.22 ₹20.33
222.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.34 ₹31.47
61.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.90 ₹269
57.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$3.95 ₹367
377.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.85 ₹172
-1.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$2.82 ₹262
13.83%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.56 ₹516
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.22 ₹20.35
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$8.66 ₹805
118.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$1.17 ₹109
20.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$1.19 ₹110
589.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.22 ₹113
0.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$16.9K ₹1.6M
25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$28.7K ₹2.7M
-22.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$34.95 ₹3,247
99.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$3.38 ₹314
316.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$6.82 ₹633
159.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$16.08 ₹1,494
157.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$11.09 ₹1,030
-39.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$2.30 ₹214
149.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$31.71 ₹2,945
843.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$1,317 ₹122.3K
1039.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$22.17 ₹2,059
147.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$23.69 ₹2,201
11.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$40.87 ₹3,797
107.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$27.65 ₹2,568
152.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$101 ₹9,361
323.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$64.9 ₹6,029
270.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$268 ₹24.9K
202.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$169 ₹15.7K
195.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$1,328 ₹123.4K
52.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$448 ₹41.6K
240.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Salem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$342 ₹31.8K
86.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.47
-47.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Salem: April 11, 2026

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

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