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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $385 in Sidhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Sidhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $844 in Sidhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Sidhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sidhi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Sidhi 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$2.31 ₹217

-15.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$10.57 ₹992

74.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$3.77 ₹354

98.94%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.54 ₹145

25.32%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.40 ₹37.89

95.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.16 ₹15.31

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.76 ₹166

22.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$3.02 ₹284

22.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.71 ₹66.7

140.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.49 ₹45.82

218.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.71 ₹66.9

66.20%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.94 ₹87.8

110.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$5.04 ₹473

218.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.95 ₹277

7.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.97 ₹185

33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.67 ₹63.1

74.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.99 ₹93.0

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.54 ₹50.6

185.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.39 ₹36.27

253.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.45 ₹42.16

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.48 ₹45.10

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.32 ₹29.64

59.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.88 ₹364

16.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.10 ₹760

126.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.78 ₹167

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.79 ₹262

13.98%

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

$5.20 ₹488

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.30 ₹28.33

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.93 ₹838

112.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.78 ₹73.6

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.47 ₹138

450.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.20 ₹113

6.67%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

50.92%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$22.0K ₹2.1M

-1.53%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$38.97 ₹3,658

77.57%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.58 ₹336

290.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.39 ₹694

142.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$16.10 ₹1,511

162.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$6.86 ₹644

-2.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$2.95 ₹277

100.68%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$52.1 ₹4,893

473.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,568 ₹147.2K

847.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$24.24 ₹2,275

131.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$25.48 ₹2,392

5.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$43.49 ₹4,082

95.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$31.98 ₹3,001

124.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$126 ₹11.9K

244.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$75.3 ₹7,064

218.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$271 ₹25.5K

194.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$181 ₹17.0K

175.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$1,080 ₹101.4K

84.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$489 ₹45.9K

213.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Sidhi: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Sidhi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Sidhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $107 – making Sidhi 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 Sidhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Sidhi, 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 $578 in Sidhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidhi, 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 $52.1 in Sidhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 127% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $385 in Sidhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidhi costs $385 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 Sidhi. 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.