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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $315 in Shajapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $502 in Shajapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $688 in Shajapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 168% more than Shajapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shajapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Shajapur 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$1.14 ₹107

71.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$5.11 ₹479

260.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$2.94 ₹276

155.10%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.08 ₹101

78.70%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.45 ₹42.70

73.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.13 ₹11.87

146.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.47 ₹138

46.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.31 ₹217

60.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.70 ₹65.7

144.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.46 ₹42.89

239.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.74 ₹69.7

59.46%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.93 ₹87.5

112.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$3.78 ₹354

324.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.91 ₹274

8.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.99 ₹187

32.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.36 ₹34.20

225.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.59 ₹55.7

179.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.49 ₹45.65

214.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.35 ₹33.30

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.34 ₹31.88

244.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.53 ₹49.86

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.32 ₹29.66

59.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.45 ₹324

31.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$2.59 ₹243

607.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.88 ₹176

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.28 ₹214

39.47%

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

$5.64 ₹529

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.30 ₹28.46

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.52 ₹800

123.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.36 ₹33.87

291.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$2.34 ₹220

245.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.18 ₹111

8.47%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$13.5K ₹1.3M

57.75%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$21.3K ₹2.0M

1.73%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$28.61 ₹2,686

141.87%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$2.33 ₹219

499.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$8.34 ₹782

115.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$15.97 ₹1,499

164.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$6.85 ₹643

-2.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$2.29 ₹215

158.52%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$49.05 ₹4,604

509.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,037 ₹97.4K

1331.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$17.15 ₹1,610

227.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$24.37 ₹2,287

10.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$29.49 ₹2,768

187.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$11.83 ₹1,111

507.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$122 ₹11.5K

255.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$76.1 ₹7,141

215.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$273 ₹25.6K

192.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$179 ₹16.8K

177.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$950 ₹89.1K

110.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$523 ₹49.1K

192.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$158 ₹14.8K

297.78%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Shajapur: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $122 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 298% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $5 in Shajapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $88 – 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 168% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $473 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $49.05 in Shajapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% 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 $315 in Shajapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shajapur costs $315 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 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.