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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $304 in Solapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $496 in Solapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $689 in Solapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 213% more than Solapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Solapur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Solapur 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$1.63 ₹155
28.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$10.43 ₹997
90.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$4.06 ₹388
42.61%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$0.96 ₹91.4
90.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$0.29 ₹27.37
168.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.12 ₹11.91
158.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$1.75 ₹167
33.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$2.34 ₹223
58.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$0.65 ₹62.3
212.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.39 ₹36.79
310.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$0.54 ₹51.8
162.96%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$0.84 ₹80.3
159.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$4.70 ₹449
238.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$3.04 ₹290
0.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$1.25 ₹119
110.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$0.36 ₹34.57
205.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$0.70 ₹67.3
132.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$0.34 ₹32.06
350.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.35 ₹33.08
254.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.34 ₹32.84
232.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.47 ₹45.23
57.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.26 ₹24.94
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$3.82 ₹365
12.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$9.01 ₹860
99.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.61 ₹154
5.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$2.50 ₹239
16.00%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.50 ₹430
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$0.20 ₹19.10
370.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$4.29 ₹410
1188.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$0.57 ₹54.3
115.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$0.33 ₹31.70
60.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$1.18 ₹113
103.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$1.07 ₹102
34.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$8,433 ₹805.6K
151.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$18.0K ₹1.7M
52.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$39.56 ₹3,780
64.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$4.12 ₹393
224.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$5.76 ₹550
261.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$9.65 ₹922
318.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
$6.35 ₹606
-37.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$3.20 ₹305
109.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$85.9 ₹8,203
816.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$1,906 ₹182.1K
693.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$8.34 ₹797
574.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$9.27 ₹886
169.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$42.62 ₹4,072
117.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$15.50 ₹1,481
384.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$83.2 ₹7,947
481.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$53.6 ₹5,117
436.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$178 ₹17.0K
412.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$144 ₹13.7K
268.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$537 ₹51.3K
268.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$447 ₹42.7K
224.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$468 ₹44.7K
29.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.49
-34.39%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Solapur: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $83.2 in Solapur. 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 29% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Solapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $96.0 – making Solapur 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 Solapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Solapur?
Chiang Mai costs about 213% more than Solapur, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Solapur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $455 in Solapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Solapur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Solapur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Solapur?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $85.9 in Solapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Solapur?
Groceries cost about 153% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Solapur?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Solapur, where all-in costs run around $304, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Solapur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Solapur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Solapur costs $304 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Solapur?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Solapur?
If budget matters most, go with Solapur. 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.

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