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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $355 in Tenali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $541 in Tenali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $728 in Tenali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Tenali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tenali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Tenali 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.6

$2.04 ₹195

1.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿665

$10.29 ₹985

93.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$5.21 ₹498

7.10%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.1

$2.17 ₹207

-19.82%

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

$0.72 ฿24.05

$0.49 ₹46.65

46.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.69

$0.11 ₹10.70

190.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.2

$2.13 ₹203

5.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$4.21 ₹404

-9.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.5

$0.68 ₹64.9

197.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.40 ₹38.62

292.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.66

$0.61 ₹58.1

129.51%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿72.0

$0.78 ₹74.6

175.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿523

$5.24 ₹502

198.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.5

$2.21 ₹212

33.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿87.1

$1.71 ₹164

52.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.15

$0.68 ₹65.5

58.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.75 ₹71.7

112.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.56

$0.46 ₹44.28

215.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.67

$0.39 ₹37.31

228.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.14

$0.36 ₹34.39

208.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.27

$0.48 ₹45.95

52.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.70

$0.27 ₹26.02

85.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$2.13 ₹203

100.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿591

$8.81 ₹843

100.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.84 ₹176

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.6

$2.59 ₹248

8.11%

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

$5.27 ₹504

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.92

$0.38 ₹36.55

128.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,812

$6.96 ₹666

678.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.54

$0.65 ₹61.9

86.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿18.01

$0.39 ₹36.89

38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.8

$1.16 ₹111

106.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.93

$1.07 ₹102

36.45%

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

$21.0K ฿702.5K

$15.0K ₹1.4M

39.99%

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

$26.7K ฿892.4K

$22.5K ₹2.2M

18.51%

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

$62.1 ฿2,075

$39.03 ₹3,737

59.03%

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

$12.93 ฿432

$2.75 ₹263

370.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿689

$6.10 ₹584

237.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,311

$7.33 ₹702

434.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$10.52 ₹1,007

-64.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿218

$2.05 ₹196

218.05%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$15.49 ₹1,483

5083.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.3K

$2,867 ₹274.4K

412.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,867

$12.94 ₹1,238

331.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿853

$18.30 ₹1,752

39.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,045

$29.11 ₹2,786

212.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,450

$18.06 ₹1,729

305.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.2K

$76.8 ₹7,355

529.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,634

$62.1 ₹5,941

364.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.6K

$170 ₹16.3K

419.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$120 ₹11.5K

336.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.5K

$963 ₹92.2K

106.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.2K

$507 ₹48.5K

184.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.2K

$369 ₹35.3K

63.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Tenali: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $76.8 in Tenali. 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 63% 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 Tenali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $100 – making Tenali 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 Tenali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Tenali, 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 $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $532 in Tenali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tenali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $15.49 in Tenali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 137% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tenali, where all-in costs run around $355, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Tenali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tenali costs $355 versus $942 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 Tenali. 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.