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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $345 in Tumkur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $549 in Tumkur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $754 in Tumkur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Tumkur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tumkur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tumkur 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.54 ₹147

36.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.33 ₹987

92.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.19 ₹305

81.50%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.45 ₹138

26.21%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.46 ₹44.03

69.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.10 ₹9.86

210.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.05 ₹196

14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.62 ₹155

128.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.51 ₹48.96

298.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.30 ₹29.02

433.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.67 ₹64.0

111.94%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.81 ₹77.4

169.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.30 ₹507

200.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.83 ₹270

8.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.56 ₹244

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.65 ₹62.4

69.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.16 ₹111

40.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.38 ₹36.29

302.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.40 ₹38.43

210.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.25 ₹23.72

352.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.36 ₹34.35

105.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.29 ₹27.62

72.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.10 ₹488

-16.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.31 ₹507

238.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.66 ₹159

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.13 ₹299

-7.35%

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

$4.23 ₹404

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.25 ₹23.76

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.38 ₹705

649.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.02 ₹97.9

20.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.28 ₹27.04

89.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.59 ₹152

50.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.10 ₹105

30.91%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$16.0K ₹1.5M

32.30%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

96.23%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$35.29 ₹3,372

83.99%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.45 ₹330

286.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$5.20 ₹496

300.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$13.95 ₹1,333

189.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.64 ₹634

-40.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.64 ₹253

154.17%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$53.8 ₹5,142

1362.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,338 ₹127.8K

1030.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$18.54 ₹1,772

203.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$21.92 ₹2,094

13.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$35.43 ₹3,385

161.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$28.11 ₹2,685

167.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$122 ₹11.6K

297.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$72.3 ₹6,909

297.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$265 ₹25.4K

242.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$168 ₹16.0K

216.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$965 ₹92.2K

105.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$508 ₹48.5K

185.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.56

-41.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tumkur: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Tumkur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $99.0 – 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 176% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $517 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $53.8 in Tumkur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 144% 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 Tumkur, where all-in costs run around $345, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Tumkur 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. Tumkur costs $345 versus $950 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.