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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $294 in Shajapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $456 in Shajapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Shajapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 223% more than Shajapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shajapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Shajapur 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.08 ₹103

94.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$4.87 ₹465

307.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.65 ₹253

118.49%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.92 ₹88.3

98.91%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.40 ₹38.31

95.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.13 ₹12.87

138.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.35 ₹129

73.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.04 ₹195

81.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.64 ₹61.1

217.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.43 ₹41.21

272.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.69 ₹66.1

105.80%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.80 ₹76.9

172.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.33 ₹319

377.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.88 ₹275

6.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.86 ₹177

41.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.33 ₹31.99

233.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.51 ₹49.10

219.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.43 ₹41.27

255.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.33 ₹31.60

275.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.33 ₹31.70

242.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.49 ₹46.64

51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.30 ₹29.06

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.25 ₹406

0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$2.55 ₹244

604.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.60 ₹153

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.04 ₹195

42.16%

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

$4.85 ₹463

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.27 ₹25.83

248.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.40 ₹707

647.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.33 ₹31.57

272.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.20 ₹19.09

165.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.04 ₹99.3

130.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.03 ₹98.4

39.81%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$11.8K ₹1.1M

79.93%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$17.9K ₹1.7M

52.38%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$26.65 ₹2,546

143.64%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$2.07 ₹198

544.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$7.19 ₹687

189.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.77 ₹1,315

193.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.55 ₹626

-39.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.06 ₹197

225.73%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$43.39 ₹4,145

1713.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$929 ₹88.7K

1528.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$15.67 ₹1,497

258.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$21.53 ₹2,057

15.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$26.21 ₹2,504

253.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$10.56 ₹1,009

611.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$123 ₹11.8K

293.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$74.2 ₹7,090

287.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$268 ₹25.6K

239.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$170 ₹16.3K

211.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$979 ₹93.5K

102.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$520 ₹49.6K

179.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$157 ₹15.0K

286.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.8

-36.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Shajapur: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $123 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 287% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $5.00 in Shajapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $81.0 – 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 223% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $441 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $43.39 in Shajapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 199% 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 Shajapur, where all-in costs run around $294, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Shajapur 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. Shajapur costs $294 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 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.