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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $391 in Sidhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $621 in Sidhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Sidhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Sidhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sidhi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sidhi 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$2.39 ₹228

-14.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$10.63 ₹1,016

76.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$3.77 ₹360

108.49%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.51 ₹145

34.44%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.41 ₹38.95

95.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.15 ₹14.41

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.71 ₹163

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.09 ₹296

18.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.69 ₹66.4

150.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.45 ₹42.85

248.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.66 ₹62.8

81.82%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$0.95 ₹91.2

107.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$5.12 ₹490

216.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.07 ₹293

-0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.96 ₹187

41.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.73 ₹70.1

60.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$0.94 ₹90.0

81.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.51 ₹48.44

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.38 ₹36.50

265.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.41 ₹39.29

182.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.49 ₹46.61

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.32 ₹30.51

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.85 ₹368

20.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$7.74 ₹740

129.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.78 ₹170

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.87 ₹274

16.38%

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

$5.23 ₹500

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.30 ₹28.88

203.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$8.81 ₹843

111.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.84 ₹80.6

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$1.44 ₹137

463.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.22 ₹117

0.82%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

54.13%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$21.9K ₹2.1M

-0.23%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$38.87 ₹3,717

83.51%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$3.52 ₹336

298.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$7.55 ₹723

137.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$15.61 ₹1,493

161.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.98 ₹667

-1.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.96 ₹283

93.24%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$52.2 ₹4,991

490.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$1,556 ₹148.8K

843.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$24.73 ₹2,365

125.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$25.11 ₹2,402

3.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$43.70 ₹4,179

94.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$32.01 ₹3,062

121.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$124 ₹11.9K

241.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$75.9 ₹7,262

219.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$276 ₹26.4K

188.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$178 ₹17.0K

184.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$902 ₹86.3K

112.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$491 ₹47.0K

198.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sidhi: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 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 118% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $586 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.2 in Sidhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 128% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $391 in Sidhi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidhi costs $391 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 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.