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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $377 in Tumkur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Tumkur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Tumkur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Tumkur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.29 ₹219

-15.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$8.35 ₹799

123.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.52 ₹337

122.16%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.25 ₹120

56.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.49 ₹47.36

73.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.14 ₹13.09

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.27 ₹217

-6.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.71 ₹164

118.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.59 ₹56.7

189.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.32 ₹30.53

409.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.67 ₹63.8

70.15%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.83 ₹79.4

132.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.99 ₹861

80.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.83 ₹271

10.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.03 ₹194

35.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.71 ₹68.1

70.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.56 ₹149

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.45 ₹43.56

253.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.49 ₹46.81

185.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.30 ₹28.90

290.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.22 ₹21.02

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.41 ₹39.10

29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.98 ₹285

57.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.79 ₹554

222.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.80 ₹172

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.74 ₹262

17.88%

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

$5.46 ₹523

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 ₹28.83

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.58 ₹822

123.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.59 ₹56.6

138.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.19 ₹114

558.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.78 ₹74.8

62.82%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$16.9K ₹1.6M

25.73%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.8K ₹2.8M

-22.83%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$34.40 ₹3,295

100.78%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.45 ₹330

308.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.80 ₹555

210.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$15.94 ₹1,527

157.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.08 ₹678

-1.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.29 ₹219

158.52%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$31.78 ₹3,044

840.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,307 ₹125.2K

1044.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$21.63 ₹2,072

152.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$23.43 ₹2,244

14.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$40.27 ₹3,857

111.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$28.07 ₹2,689

151.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$122 ₹11.7K

250.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$77.6 ₹7,431

205.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$275 ₹26.4K

190.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$183 ₹17.6K

180.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$986 ₹94.5K

100.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$514 ₹49.3K

186.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.47

-47.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tumkur: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Tumkur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Tumkur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $113 – making Tumkur 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 Tumkur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Tumkur, 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 $565 in Tumkur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tumkur, 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 $31.78 in Tumkur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 118% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $377 in Tumkur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tumkur costs $377 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 Tumkur. 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.