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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $374 in Tumkur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Tumkur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $820 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 36% lower, Tumkur 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.31 ₹223

-15.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$8.23 ₹793

122.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.59 ₹346

108.36%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.28 ₹124

57.81%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.46 ₹44.46

84.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.11 ₹10.54

227.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.37 ₹229

-9.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.70 ₹164

111.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.57 ₹54.8

189.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.34 ₹32.83

361.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.73 ₹70.2

63.01%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.82 ₹79.4

136.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.20 ₹887

75.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.83 ₹273

5.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.99 ₹191

36.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.75 ₹72.4

56.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.49 ₹144

13.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.42 ₹40.35

280.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.46 ₹44.25

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.30 ₹29.10

300.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.24 ₹23.22

179.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.44 ₹42.06

27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.93 ₹282

58.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.78 ₹557

204.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.78 ₹172

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.82 ₹272

17.02%

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

$5.51 ₹531

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.30 ₹29.11

193.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$8.52 ₹821

127.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.60 ₹57.9

126.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.14 ₹110

620.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.83 ₹79.6

46.99%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$17.0K ₹1.6M

25.26%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$29.5K ₹2.8M

-23.56%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$34.26 ₹3,304

106.28%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.33 ₹321

321.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$5.75 ₹554

204.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$16.20 ₹1,563

160.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.83 ₹659

0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.27 ₹219

160.79%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$32.15 ₹3,100

859.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,304 ₹125.8K

1040.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$21.90 ₹2,112

154.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$23.81 ₹2,296

9.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$39.95 ₹3,853

107.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$27.86 ₹2,687

152.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$122 ₹11.7K

255.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$77.4 ₹7,465

208.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$274 ₹26.4K

199.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$183 ₹17.6K

180.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$994 ₹95.9K

92.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$521 ₹50.2K

181.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tumkur: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Tumkur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $114 – 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $561 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $32.15 in Tumkur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $374 in Tumkur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tumkur costs $374 versus $861 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.