Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tinsukia

For one person, living is cheaper in Tinsukia: $360 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
18

Cost of Living Index in Tinsukia
Learn more

Tinsukia Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Tinsukia

🇮🇳 India

$360

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Tinsukia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Tinsukia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $360 in Tinsukia, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Tinsukia $360

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $583 in Tinsukia, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Tinsukia $583

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $805 in Tinsukia, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Tinsukia $805

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Tinsukia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tinsukia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Tinsukia 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$2.05 ₹194

11.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$13.63 ₹1,294

44.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$3.67 ₹349

52.86%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$1.58 ₹150

5.06%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.57 ₹54.0

22.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.14 ₹13.66

121.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.79 ₹170

34.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$3.00 ₹285

23.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.62 ₹58.6

214.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.45 ₹42.40

213.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$0.66 ₹62.4

98.48%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$0.91 ₹86.7

139.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$4.54 ₹431

266.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$2.79 ₹265

-1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.87 ₹177

27.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$0.62 ₹59.2

66.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.88 ₹83.2

85.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.44 ₹42.24

240.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.32 ₹30.06

303.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.37 ₹35.03

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.47 ₹44.49

53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.31 ₹29.89

70.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$4.91 ₹466

-12.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.39 ₹702

142.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.58 ₹150

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.60 ₹247

9.23%

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

$4.77 ₹453

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.27 ₹25.82

218.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$7.38 ₹701

621.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.80 ₹76.4

51.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.27 ₹25.84

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.61 ₹153

45.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.08 ₹102

33.33%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$12.4K ₹1.2M

66.56%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$20.0K ₹1.9M

34.20%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$34.52 ₹3,278

80.56%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$3.34 ₹317

262.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$6.48 ₹616

207.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$13.87 ₹1,318

167.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$6.43 ₹611

-41.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$2.95 ₹281

120.34%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$47.29 ₹4,490

1576.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$1,409 ₹133.8K

951.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$21.17 ₹2,011

153.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$23.80 ₹2,260

3.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$38.66 ₹3,671

135.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$27.96 ₹2,655

154.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$121 ₹11.5K

275.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$72.8 ₹6,913

309.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$260 ₹24.7K

249.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$174 ₹16.5K

218.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$972 ₹92.3K

98.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$511 ₹48.5K

182.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$325 ₹30.9K

81.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.86

-37.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Tinsukia: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Tinsukia

$73 20.2% 75.6% $225

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Tinsukia

$99 27.3% 58.2% $137

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Tinsukia

$50 13.9% 53.6% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Tinsukia

$44 12.3% 53% $50

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Tinsukia

$64 17.8% 18.4% $14

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Tinsukia

$11 3% 82.5% $50

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Tinsukia

$20 5.5% 60.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $121 in Tinsukia. 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 82% 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 $14.00 in Tinsukia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $99.0 – making Tinsukia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇳 Tinsukia

🕒 Local time

14:27 2:27 PM

12:57 12:57 PM

1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

10,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Indian Rupee INR ₹

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 INR = 10.53 USD

1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Tinsukia 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Tinsukia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tinsukia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Tinsukia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $541 in Tinsukia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $47.29 in Tinsukia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 139% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tinsukia, where all-in costs run around $360, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Tinsukia 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. Tinsukia costs $360 versus $925 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 Tinsukia. 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.