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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $304 in Silchar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $479 in Silchar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $653 in Silchar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 180% more than Silchar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Silchar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Silchar 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.18 ₹112

66.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$8.38 ₹796

124.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.91 ₹466

61.30%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$0.65 ₹61.8

193.85%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.24 ₹22.88

250.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.14 ₹13.22

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.36 ₹129

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.15 ₹204

76.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.75 ₹71.3

118.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.47 ₹44.42

244.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.52 ₹49.75

126.92%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.92 ₹87.7

118.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.43 ₹421

258.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.14 ₹299

-4.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.85 ₹176

41.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.70 ₹66.8

74.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.97 ₹92.0

75.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.71 ₹67.4

122.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.31 ₹29.85

325.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.35 ₹33.46

234.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.33 ₹31.78

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.30 ₹28.74

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.28 ₹216

98.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.96 ₹661

161.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.48 ₹141

23.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.17 ₹206

48.85%

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

$4.26 ₹405

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 ₹26.49

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$5.79 ₹550

234.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.76 ₹72.0

77.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.43 ₹136

476.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.14 ₹108

11.40%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.2K ₹1.3M

49.16%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$17.8K ₹1.7M

26.22%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$17.18 ₹1,631

308.32%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.44 ₹232

464.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.62 ₹534

213.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$11.52 ₹1,094

260.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.12 ₹676

-7.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.99 ₹284

93.31%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$17.55 ₹1,666

1644.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,971 ₹187.1K

652.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$25.47 ₹2,418

113.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$36.21 ₹3,438

-27.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$46.14 ₹4,381

83.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$43.87 ₹4,165

58.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$58.8 ₹5,585

620.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$35.47 ₹3,367

571.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$119 ₹11.3K

595.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$68.8 ₹6,534

648.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$295 ₹28.0K

115.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

-32.25%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Silchar: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $58.8 in Silchar. 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 115% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Silchar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $100 – making Silchar 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 Silchar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 180% more than Silchar, 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 $457 in Silchar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Silchar, 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 $17.55 in Silchar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 143% 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 $304 in Silchar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Silchar costs $304 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 Silchar. 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.