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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $323 in Solapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $518 in Solapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Solapur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 161% more than Solapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Solapur are more affordable than the global median โ€“ Chiang Mai 37% lower, Solapur 76% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 เธฟ62.8
$1.77 โ‚น166
10.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 เธฟ594
$10.15 โ‚น952
81.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 เธฟ241
$4.33 โ‚น407
73.21%
Cappuccino
$1.93 เธฟ62.3
$1.11 โ‚น104
73.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 เธฟ25.08
$0.34 โ‚น32.14
129.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 เธฟ10.42
$0.11 โ‚น10.38
190.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 เธฟ69.2
$1.96 โ‚น184
9.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 เธฟ120
$2.49 โ‚น234
49.00%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 เธฟ55.2
$0.70 โ‚น66.0
144.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 เธฟ50.3
$0.40 โ‚น37.68
290.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ38.06
$0.49 โ‚น46.11
140.82%
Eggs
$1.98 เธฟ63.9
$0.83 โ‚น77.6
138.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 เธฟ517
$5.16 โ‚น484
210.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 เธฟ102
$3.15 โ‚น296
0.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 เธฟ353
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 เธฟ84.7
$1.43 โ‚น134
83.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 เธฟ37.61
$0.41 โ‚น38.27
185.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 เธฟ53.0
$0.79 โ‚น74.5
108.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 เธฟ49.51
$0.33 โ‚น31.41
366.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 เธฟ44.34
$0.40 โ‚น37.34
245.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 เธฟ37.54
$0.32 โ‚น29.84
265.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 เธฟ21.25
$0.56 โ‚น52.9
17.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 เธฟ16.55
$0.24 โ‚น22.49
112.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 เธฟ146
$4.14 โ‚น388
9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 เธฟ590
$8.51 โ‚น799
115.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 เธฟ57.9
$1.83 โ‚น171
-1.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 เธฟ102
$2.77 โ‚น260
14.80%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.85 โ‚น456
-
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.97
$0.24 โ‚น22.56
275.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 เธฟ612
$4.69 โ‚น440
305.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 เธฟ45.50
$0.59 โ‚น55.8
138.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 เธฟ42.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 เธฟ261
$1.54 โ‚น145
425.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 เธฟ41.08
$1.20 โ‚น112
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K เธฟ686.1K
$13.4K โ‚น1.3M
58.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ699.3K
$19.2K โ‚น1.8M
13.21%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 เธฟ2,230
$38.77 โ‚น3,639
78.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 เธฟ450
$4.57 โ‚น428
205.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 เธฟ578
$6.35 โ‚น596
182.68%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 เธฟ1,363
$10.16 โ‚น953
316.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 เธฟ214
$7.15 โ‚น671
-6.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 เธฟ191
$3.42 โ‚น321
73.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 เธฟ9,640
$97.8 โ‚น9,183
205.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ478.4K
$2,111 โ‚น198.1K
603.44%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 เธฟ1,810
$9.06 โ‚น851
520.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 เธฟ868
$10.28 โ‚น965
162.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 เธฟ2,735
$47.67 โ‚น4,474
78.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 เธฟ2,314
$17.78 โ‚น1,669
303.99%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 เธฟ14.0K
$92.6 โ‚น8,694
369.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 เธฟ7,727
$58.2 โ‚น5,460
312.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 เธฟ25.7K
$198 โ‚น18.6K
302.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 เธฟ16.1K
$156 โ‚น14.7K
219.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 เธฟ64.3K
$553 โ‚น51.9K
260.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 เธฟ49.4K
$448 โ‚น42.1K
241.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Solapur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 เธฟ20.2K
$363 โ‚น34.1K
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

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.

Salaries 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.

A 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.

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