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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $358 in Sidhi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Sidhi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $784 in Sidhi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 165% more than Sidhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sidhi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sidhi 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.15 ₹205

-2.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.34 ₹988

91.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.77 ₹360

53.58%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.61 ₹153

13.66%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.41 ₹39.01

90.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.16 ₹14.81

93.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.71 ₹163

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.04 ₹291

21.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.68 ₹65.1

198.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.47 ₹45.09

240.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.66 ₹63.0

115.15%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.86 ₹82.0

153.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.56 ₹436

248.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.91 ₹278

5.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.87 ₹179

40.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.64 ₹60.9

71.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.97 ₹92.6

68.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.44 ₹42.06

247.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.35 ₹33.46

254.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.40 ₹38.63

182.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.49 ₹47.09

51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.31 ₹29.70

61.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.13 ₹490

-16.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.41 ₹708

142.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.59 ₹152

6.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.69 ₹257

7.81%

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

$4.85 ₹463

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.27 ₹26.07

248.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.03 ₹672

686.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.77 ₹74.0

59.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.25 ₹23.85

112.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.62 ₹155

48.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.10 ₹106

30.91%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$12.8K ₹1.2M

65.06%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.8K ₹1.9M

38.18%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$35.39 ₹3,381

83.47%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.41 ₹326

291.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$6.71 ₹641

210.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$14.00 ₹1,337

188.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.29 ₹601

-37.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.00 ₹287

123.67%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$48.09 ₹4,595

1536.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,417 ₹135.4K

967.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$21.66 ₹2,070

159.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$23.15 ₹2,212

7.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$37.84 ₹3,616

145.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$27.37 ₹2,615

174.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$122 ₹11.7K

295.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$74.4 ₹7,108

286.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$268 ₹25.6K

239.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$171 ₹16.3K

211.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$981 ₹93.8K

101.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$518 ₹49.5K

179.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sidhi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $122 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Sidhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $101 – 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 165% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $538 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.09 in Sidhi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 140% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidhi, where all-in costs run around $358, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sidhi 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. Sidhi costs $358 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 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.