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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $371 in Shivamogga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $606 in Shivamogga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $841 in Shivamogga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Shivamogga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Shivamogga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Shivamogga 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.29 ₹311

-40.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$15.24 ₹1,442

23.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$5.18 ₹490

52.90%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.33 ₹126

43.61%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.35 ₹33.56

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.23 ₹21.79

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.26 ₹119

75.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.99 ₹283

27.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.54 ₹50.7

203.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.47 ₹44.39

244.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$0.74 ₹70.5

59.46%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$0.84 ₹79.8

139.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$4.40 ₹417

261.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$3.18 ₹301

-5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.12 ₹200

23.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$0.69 ₹64.9

76.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$0.54 ₹51.5

214.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.42 ₹40.10

276.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.42 ₹39.56

214.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.47 ₹44.07

148.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.24 ₹22.85

179.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.42 ₹39.75

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$3.59 ₹339

26.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$6.74 ₹638

170.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$0.98 ₹92.9

86.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.77 ₹167

82.49%

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

$4.56 ₹432

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.28 ₹26.26

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$8.61 ₹814

125.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$1.18 ₹111

14.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$2.38 ₹225

246.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.15 ₹109

10.43%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$11.4K ₹1.1M

85.26%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$32.8K ₹3.1M

-31.42%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$23.55 ₹2,228

197.88%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$1.96 ₹186

602.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$8.50 ₹804

107.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$8.31 ₹786

400.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$6.86 ₹649

-3.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$2.37 ₹224

143.88%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$51.8 ₹4,900

491.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$1,916 ₹181.3K

673.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$33.58 ₹3,178

61.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$28.68 ₹2,713

-8.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$52.0 ₹4,922

62.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$23.65 ₹2,237

193.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$122 ₹11.5K

247.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$86.0 ₹8,134

177.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$273 ₹25.8K

202.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$178 ₹16.8K

189.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$422 ₹39.9K

50.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.47

-40.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shivamogga: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Shivamogga. 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 50% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $15 in Shivamogga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $95 – making Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Shivamogga, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $557 in Shivamogga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.8 in Shivamogga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 157% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $371 in Shivamogga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shivamogga costs $371 versus $852 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 Shivamogga. 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.