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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $370 in Tenali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $559 in Tenali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $748 in Tenali, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 134% more than Tenali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tenali are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tenali 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.26 ₹216

-14.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$5.83 ₹555

219.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.33 ₹507

46.72%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.94 ₹185

0.52%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.44 ₹42.22

93.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.13 ₹12.25

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.06 ₹196

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.45 ₹329

8.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.80 ₹76.4

113.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.45 ₹42.75

262.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.72 ₹68.2

58.33%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.86 ₹82.3

124.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.70 ₹543

184.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.44 ₹232

27.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.90 ₹181

44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.75 ₹71.6

61.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.83 ₹79.2

95.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.51 ₹48.57

211.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.47 ₹44.42

197.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.52 ₹49.50

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.67 ₹63.7

-1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.30 ₹28.76

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.28 ₹217

105.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.17 ₹778

128.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.04 ₹194

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.97 ₹283

8.75%

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

$5.77 ₹550

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.40 ₹37.81

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.74 ₹833

119.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.68 ₹64.7

107.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.59 ₹151

393.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.25 ₹119

1.60%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.2K ₹1.6M

23.88%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.2K ₹2.3M

-8.30%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$39.55 ₹3,768

74.64%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.13 ₹298

349.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$6.79 ₹647

165.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$7.91 ₹753

419.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.59 ₹1,104

-39.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.26 ₹215

161.95%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$17.31 ₹1,648

1627.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,600 ₹247.6K

475.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$14.70 ₹1,400

272.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$20.55 ₹1,958

30.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$31.81 ₹3,030

167.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$20.66 ₹1,968

241.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$88.0 ₹8,383

386.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$70.4 ₹6,701

237.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$186 ₹17.7K

331.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$136 ₹12.9K

279.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,017 ₹96.9K

94.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$467 ₹44.5K

215.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$366 ₹34.8K

68.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tenali: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $88.0 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 69% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Tenali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $109 – 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 134% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $555 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $17.31 in Tenali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 126% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $370 in Tenali, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tenali costs $370 versus $866 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.