๐A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $323 in Solapur, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $518 in Solapur, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Solapur, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Solapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Chiang Mai and Solapur are more affordable than the global median โ Chiang Mai37% lower, Solapur76% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95เธฟ62.8
$1.77โน166
10.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43เธฟ594
$10.15โน952
81.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50เธฟ241
$4.33โน407
73.21%
Cappuccino
$1.93เธฟ62.3
$1.11โน104
73.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78เธฟ25.08
$0.34โน32.14
129.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32เธฟ10.42
$0.11โน10.38
190.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15เธฟ69.2
$1.96โน184
9.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71เธฟ120
$2.49โน234
49.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ55.2
$0.70โน66.0
144.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56เธฟ50.3
$0.40โน37.68
290.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18เธฟ38.06
$0.49โน46.11
140.82%
Eggs
$1.98เธฟ63.9
$0.83โน77.6
138.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04เธฟ517
$5.16โน484
210.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17เธฟ102
$3.15โน296
0.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94เธฟ353
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.63เธฟ84.7
$1.43โน134
83.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.61
$0.41โน38.27
185.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65เธฟ53.0
$0.79โน74.5
108.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54เธฟ49.51
$0.33โน31.41
366.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38เธฟ44.34
$0.40โน37.34
245.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ37.54
$0.32โน29.84
265.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.25
$0.56โน52.9
17.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.55
$0.24โน22.49
112.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52เธฟ146
$4.14โน388
9.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32เธฟ590
$8.51โน799
115.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ57.9
$1.83โน171
-1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18เธฟ102
$2.77โน260
14.80%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.85โน456
-
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ28.97
$0.24โน22.56
275.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00เธฟ612
$4.69โน440
305.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.50
$0.59โน55.8
138.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31เธฟ42.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09เธฟ261
$1.54โน145
425.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28เธฟ41.08
$1.20โน112
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ686.1K
$13.4Kโน1.3M
58.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kเธฟ699.3K
$19.2Kโน1.8M
13.21%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2เธฟ2,230
$38.77โน3,639
78.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97เธฟ450
$4.57โน428
205.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95เธฟ578
$6.35โน596
182.68%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31เธฟ1,363
$10.16โน953
316.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66เธฟ214
$7.15โน671
-6.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ191
$3.42โน321
73.10%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,640
$97.8โน9,183
205.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kเธฟ478.4K
$2,111โน198.1K
603.44%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2เธฟ1,810
$9.06โน851
520.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94เธฟ868
$10.28โน965
162.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9เธฟ2,735
$47.67โน4,474
78.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8เธฟ2,314
$17.78โน1,669
303.99%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435เธฟ14.0K
$92.6โน8,694
369.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240เธฟ7,727
$58.2โน5,460
312.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798เธฟ25.7K
$198โน18.6K
302.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498เธฟ16.1K
$156โน14.7K
219.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995เธฟ64.3K
$553โน51.9K
260.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532เธฟ49.4K
$448โน42.1K
241.88%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628เธฟ20.2K
$363โน34.1K
73.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.25
-39.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Solapur: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $93 in Solapur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 73% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Solapur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $101 โ 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 161% 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 vs Solapur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $485 in Solapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Solapur?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $97.8 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 Solapur?
Groceries cost about 142% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Solapur?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably โ all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $323 in Solapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Solapur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Solapur costs $323 versus $845 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared