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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $322 in Shajapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $504 in Shajapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Shajapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Shajapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shajapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Shajapur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.1

$1.18 ₹112

67.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿620

$5.24 ₹499

258.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$2.97 ₹283

160.94%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$1.03 ₹98.4

86.41%

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

$0.79 ฿26.09

$0.48 ₹46.17

64.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.15 ₹14.00

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$1.54 ₹147

43.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿121

$2.31 ₹220

58.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.5

$0.66 ₹62.6

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.45 ₹43.17

262.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.31

$0.70 ₹66.9

70.00%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$0.89 ₹84.9

124.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$3.83 ₹365

317.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.7

$2.95 ₹281

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿358

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿91.0

$1.98 ₹189

39.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.87

$0.37 ₹34.83

218.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.1

$0.57 ₹54.1

187.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.1

$0.45 ₹43.08

237.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.63

$0.32 ₹30.88

331.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.29

$0.34 ₹32.15

250.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.13

$0.50 ₹47.77

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.34

$0.34 ₹32.74

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$3.59 ₹342

27.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿546

$2.50 ₹238

562.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.92 ₹183

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$2.40 ₹228

33.33%

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

$5.53 ₹526

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.90

$0.30 ₹28.60

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿617

$8.59 ₹818

117.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.68

$0.36 ₹34.43

277.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$2.39 ₹227

228.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.39

$1.14 ₹108

7.89%

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

$21.6K ฿712.5K

$13.5K ₹1.3M

60.66%

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

$22.5K ฿742.9K

$21.1K ₹2.0M

6.84%

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

$70.5 ฿2,324

$29.35 ₹2,796

140.34%

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

$13.68 ฿451

$2.26 ₹215

505.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿575

$8.29 ₹790

110.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,362

$15.70 ₹1,496

163.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$6.92 ₹660

0.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$2.34 ₹223

146.58%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$48.57 ₹4,626

532.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.4K

$1,054 ₹100.4K

1285.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,838

$17.21 ₹1,639

224.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿864

$24.57 ₹2,341

6.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,825

$28.83 ₹2,746

197.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,380

$11.75 ₹1,119

514.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.2K

$125 ₹11.9K

243.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,865

$77.6 ₹7,391

207.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$278 ₹26.5K

193.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$181 ₹17.3K

181.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$1,035 ₹98.6K

91.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$463 ₹44.1K

220.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$159 ₹15.1K

290.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.8

-43.18%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Shajapur: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Shajapur. 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 290% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $5.00 in Shajapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $88.0 – making Shajapur 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 Shajapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Shajapur, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $483 in Shajapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shajapur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.57 in Shajapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $322 in Shajapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shajapur costs $322 versus $869 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 Shajapur. 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.