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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $387 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $586 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $784 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Shahjahanpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shahjahanpur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Shahjahanpur 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$3.52 ₹331

-44.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$9.56 ₹897

92.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$2.89 ₹272

159.52%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.69 ₹159

14.20%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.36 ₹33.91

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.08 ₹7.53

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$2.06 ₹193

4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$3.40 ₹319

9.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.69 ₹64.4

147.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.51 ₹48.23

205.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.73 ₹69.0

61.64%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.77 ₹72.1

157.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$2.83 ₹265

466.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.92 ₹274

8.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.56 ₹146

68.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.59 ₹55.5

98.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.79 ₹74.5

108.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.42 ₹39.81

266.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.34 ₹31.50

305.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.40 ₹37.31

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.49 ₹45.68

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.30 ₹28.56

70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.51 ₹235

80.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$5.37 ₹504

241.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.95 ₹89.5

89.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.27 ₹213

40.09%

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

$3.54 ₹333

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.28 ₹26.24

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.62 ₹809

120.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.84 ₹79.2

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.72 ₹162

370.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.07 ₹100

19.63%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$19.5K ₹1.8M

9.22%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$23.1K ₹2.2M

-5.91%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$46.03 ₹4,321

50.34%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.44 ₹323

306.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$8.71 ₹817

106.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$15.93 ₹1,495

165.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$7.22 ₹678

-7.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$2.57 ₹241

130.35%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$79.8 ₹7,494

274.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,710 ₹160.5K

768.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$23.30 ₹2,187

141.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$22.89 ₹2,149

17.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$51.7 ₹4,851

64.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$35.56 ₹3,338

102.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$80.6 ₹7,563

439.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$70.6 ₹6,628

239.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$157 ₹14.8K

407.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$129 ₹12.1K

285.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$956 ₹89.7K

108.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$516 ₹48.4K

196.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$738 ₹69.3K

-14.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Shahjahanpur: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $81 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 18% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Shahjahanpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $85 – 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 118% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $580 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $79.8 in Shahjahanpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 186% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $387 in Shahjahanpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shahjahanpur costs $387 versus $845 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.