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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $337 in Shimla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Shimla, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Shimla, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Shimla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shimla are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Shimla 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$1.78 ₹167

9.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$5.90 ₹554

212.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$3.56 ₹334

110.67%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$0.93 ₹87.2

107.53%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.31 ₹29.53

151.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.15 ₹14.11

113.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.62 ₹152

32.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.30 ₹216

61.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.75 ₹70.7

128.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.44 ₹41.38

254.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.64 ₹59.8

84.37%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.86 ₹80.3

130.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$4.36 ₹409

267.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$3.70 ₹347

-14.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.97 ₹185

33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.70 ₹65.5

67.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.82 ₹76.7

101.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.56 ₹52.3

175.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.35 ₹32.54

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.44 ₹41.34

165.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.22 ₹20.63

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.34 ₹31.54

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$4.46 ₹418

1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$5.26 ₹494

248.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.69 ₹159

6.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.25 ₹211

41.33%

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

$5.91 ₹555

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.22 ₹20.53

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.78 ₹824

116.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.83 ₹77.8

69.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.18 ₹110

585.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.19 ₹111

7.56%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$15.0K ₹1.4M

42.43%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$19.7K ₹1.8M

10.26%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$19.05 ₹1,788

263.25%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.45 ₹324

304.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.69 ₹721

133.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$14.60 ₹1,370

189.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$7.20 ₹676

-7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$3.44 ₹323

72.09%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$46.07 ₹4,324

549.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$2,352 ₹220.8K

531.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$33.31 ₹3,127

68.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$28.80 ₹2,704

-6.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$46.18 ₹4,334

83.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$29.10 ₹2,731

146.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$94.6 ₹8,878

359.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$58.3 ₹5,467

311.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$223 ₹20.9K

258.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$138 ₹13.0K

260.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$955 ₹89.6K

108.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$515 ₹48.3K

197.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$577 ₹54.1K

8.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

-39.39%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Shimla: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $95 in Shimla. 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 9% 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 $6 in Shimla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $100 – making Shimla 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 Shimla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Shimla, 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 $506 in Shimla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shimla, 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 $46.07 in Shimla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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 $337 in Shimla, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shimla costs $337 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 Shimla. 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.