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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $380 in Tinsukia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $613 in Tinsukia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $846 in Tinsukia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Tinsukia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tinsukia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Tinsukia 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$2.34 ₹220

-16.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$15.22 ₹1,429

21.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$3.79 ₹356

97.89%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.52 ₹142

26.97%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.58 ₹54.6

34.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.19 ₹17.74

68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.75 ₹165

22.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$3.09 ₹290

20.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.71 ₹66.3

140.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.49 ₹45.60

218.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$0.67 ₹62.6

76.12%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$0.89 ₹83.2

122.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$5.11 ₹480

213.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.96 ₹278

7.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$2.03 ₹191

29.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$0.72 ₹67.5

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.92 ₹86.1

79.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.50 ₹46.78

208.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.39 ₹36.28

253.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.45 ₹42.30

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.45 ₹42.53

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.34 ₹32.12

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$3.91 ₹367

15.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$6.47 ₹607

183.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.71 ₹161

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.88 ₹270

10.42%

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

$5.23 ₹491

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.30 ₹28.56

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$8.52 ₹800

123.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.80 ₹75.1

76.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$1.42 ₹134

469.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.17 ₹110

9.40%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

52.87%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$22.0K ₹2.1M

-1.18%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$38.51 ₹3,614

79.69%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$3.50 ₹329

299.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$7.32 ₹687

145.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$16.22 ₹1,523

160.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$6.87 ₹645

-3.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$2.83 ₹266

109.19%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$52.0 ₹4,878

475.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$1,523 ₹142.9K

875.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$24.67 ₹2,316

127.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$24.91 ₹2,338

8.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$42.54 ₹3,993

99.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$32.29 ₹3,031

122.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$126 ₹11.9K

244.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$77.0 ₹7,223

211.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$278 ₹26.1K

186.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$180 ₹16.9K

176.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$964 ₹90.5K

106.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$515 ₹48.4K

197.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$335 ₹31.4K

87.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Tinsukia: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 88% 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 $15 in Tinsukia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $104 – making Tinsukia 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 Tinsukia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Tinsukia, 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $570 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.0 in Tinsukia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $380 in Tinsukia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tinsukia costs $380 versus $845 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.