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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $403 in Solan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $634 in Solan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $865 in Solan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Solan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Solan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Solan 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.43 ₹135

37.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$17.14 ₹1,628

9.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.00 ₹380

98.00%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.08 ₹197

-8.17%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.36 ₹34.33

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.11 ₹10.68

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.38 ₹226

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.53 ₹335

7.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.46 ₹43.51

256.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.54 ₹51.3

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.49 ₹46.10

140.82%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.82 ₹78.3

145.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$3.76 ₹357

322.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.60 ₹247

15.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.88 ₹179

38.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.79 ₹75.4

54.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.61 ₹57.8

178.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.52 ₹49.31

203.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.36 ₹34.41

266.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.49 ₹46.39

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.32 ₹30.54

109.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.34 ₹32.23

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.17 ₹301

42.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.24 ₹688

151.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.13 ₹203

-14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.21 ₹400

-23.28%

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

$5.41 ₹513

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.86

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.89 ₹844

118.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.56 ₹52.9

141.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.49 ₹141

453.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.07 ₹102

18.69%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

50.48%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$21.2K ₹2.0M

6.03%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$52.1 ₹4,948

34.59%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$2.89 ₹275

376.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$8.22 ₹780

114.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.07 ₹1,526

158.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$6.91 ₹656

-4.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.36 ₹224

144.92%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$92.8 ₹8,812

229.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,685 ₹160.0K

779.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$29.02 ₹2,755

87.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.20 ₹2,583

-3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$46.06 ₹4,373

83.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$31.38 ₹2,979

121.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$125 ₹11.9K

239.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$77.5 ₹7,355

207.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$276 ₹26.2K

198.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$179 ₹17.0K

188.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$867 ₹82.3K

136.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$530 ₹50.3K

187.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.81

-49.03%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Solan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Solan. 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 $17.00 in Solan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $100 – making Solan 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 Solan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 112% more than Solan, 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 $604 in Solan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Solan, 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 $92.8 in Solan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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 $403 in Solan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Solan costs $403 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 Solan. 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.