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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $382 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $604 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $827 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 127% more than Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.27 ₹218

-14.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.73 ₹1,315

35.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.31 ₹413

81.44%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.80 ₹172

8.33%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.33 ₹32.00

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.23 ₹22.04

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.71 ₹164

24.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.47 ₹332

7.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.60 ₹57.2

185.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.54 ₹51.6

201.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.63 ₹60.7

80.95%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.99 ₹95.1

94.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.93 ₹568

173.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.40 ₹230

30.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.42 ₹231

13.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.71 ₹68.3

70.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.27 ₹122

27.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.58 ₹55.6

174.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.52 ₹49.75

169.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.61 ₹58.4

91.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.51 ₹48.81

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.30 ₹29.08

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.59 ₹344

30.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.70 ₹641

178.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.48 ₹142

21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.81 ₹269

14.95%

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

$4.82 ₹462

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.17 ₹15.89

429.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$6.36 ₹609

202.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.96 ₹91.5

46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.79 ₹171

337.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.24 ₹119

2.42%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$18.9K ₹1.8M

12.46%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.5K ₹2.1M

3.41%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$28.02 ₹2,684

146.50%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.39 ₹324

315.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.98 ₹764

125.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$16.57 ₹1,587

147.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.88 ₹1,137

-41.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.35 ₹225

151.91%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$30.59 ₹2,929

877.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,959 ₹187.6K

663.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$18.05 ₹1,729

203.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$15.97 ₹1,530

67.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$33.82 ₹3,239

151.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$22.06 ₹2,113

220.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$144 ₹13.8K

197.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$89.9 ₹8,609

164.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$281 ₹26.9K

185.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$173 ₹16.6K

197.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$678 ₹64.9K

191.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$428 ₹41.0K

244.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$241 ₹23.1K

155.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 156% 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 $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $107 – making Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 127% more than Thiruvananthapuram, 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 $573 in Thiruvananthapuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thiruvananthapuram, 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 $30.59 in Thiruvananthapuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% 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 $382 in Thiruvananthapuram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thiruvananthapuram costs $382 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 Thiruvananthapuram. 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.