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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $344 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $515 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Shahjahanpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shahjahanpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Shahjahanpur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.11 ₹297

-32.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$8.60 ₹822

130.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.10 ₹296

86.77%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.61 ₹154

13.66%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.33 ₹31.73

136.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.08 ₹7.44

287.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.05 ₹195

14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.42 ₹231

52.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.62 ₹58.8

227.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.46 ₹44.13

247.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.62 ₹58.8

129.03%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.76 ₹72.5

186.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$2.61 ₹250

509.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.70 ₹258

13.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.39 ₹133

89.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.51 ₹48.70

115.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.69 ₹66.0

136.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.38 ₹36.33

302.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.28 ₹26.72

342.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.39 ₹36.84

189.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.44 ₹42.05

68.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.27 ₹25.83

85.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.24 ₹214

91.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.37 ₹513

234.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.91 ₹87.2

86.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.14 ₹204

35.51%

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

$3.12 ₹298

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.27 ₹25.92

248.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.21 ₹689

666.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.72 ₹68.6

70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.20 ₹19.09

165.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.60 ₹153

50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.95 ₹90.8

51.58%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$16.0K ₹1.5M

32.20%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$20.6K ₹2.0M

32.47%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$38.07 ₹3,637

70.55%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.21 ₹306

315.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$8.29 ₹792

151.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.87 ₹1,325

191.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.35 ₹607

-37.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.40 ₹230

179.58%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$73.9 ₹7,062

964.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,738 ₹166.0K

770.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$21.42 ₹2,047

162.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$21.34 ₹2,039

16.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$48.17 ₹4,602

92.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$26.16 ₹2,499

187.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$74.4 ₹7,105

550.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$62.1 ₹5,932

362.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$144 ₹13.8K

531.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$114 ₹10.9K

363.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$975 ₹93.1K

103.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$513 ₹49.0K

183.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$725 ₹69.3K

-16.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Shahjahanpur: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $74.4 in Shahjahanpur. 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 20% higher in Shahjahanpur, 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 $9.00 in Shahjahanpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $78.0 – making Shahjahanpur 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 Shahjahanpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Shahjahanpur, 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 $516 in Shahjahanpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shahjahanpur, 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 $73.9 in Shahjahanpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 209% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahjahanpur, where all-in costs run around $344, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Shahjahanpur 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. Shahjahanpur costs $344 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 Shahjahanpur. 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.