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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $281 in Ujjain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $445 in Ujjain, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $609 in Ujjain, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 237% more than Ujjain, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ujjain are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ujjain 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$1.60 ₹151

30.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$8.60 ₹812

128.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.22 ₹304

75.47%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.90 ₹179

-4.74%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.40 ₹38.10

77.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.14 ₹13.61

128.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.56 ₹147

43.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.46 ₹232

47.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.60 ₹56.5

226.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.29 ₹27.44

417.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.66 ₹62.0

103.03%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.79 ₹75.0

186.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$3.54 ₹335

359.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.90 ₹274

1.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.31 ₹124

96.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.51 ₹48.49

107.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.59 ₹55.6

172.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.29 ₹27.56

424.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.27 ₹25.55

370.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.27 ₹25.42

296.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.27 ₹25.57

166.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.27 ₹25.64

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.90 ₹463

-14.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.39 ₹509

231.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.54 ₹146

9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.77 ₹261

2.53%

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

$4.99 ₹472

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.25 ₹23.50

272.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$5.34 ₹505

908.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.36 ₹33.68

241.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.22 ₹20.81

163.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.02 ₹96.6

137.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.09 ₹103

29.36%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$6,764 ₹639.1K

217.03%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$14.3K ₹1.4M

90.79%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$26.11 ₹2,467

143.85%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$2.66 ₹251

383.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$6.25 ₹591

223.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$7.20 ₹681

438.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$8.83 ₹834

-55.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$2.14 ₹202

214.95%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$43.47 ₹4,107

1689.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,396 ₹131.9K

946.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$17.78 ₹1,680

205.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$21.83 ₹2,062

16.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$30.34 ₹2,867

210.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$29.55 ₹2,792

148.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$70.6 ₹6,667

593.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$42.33 ₹4,000

583.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$159 ₹15.0K

462.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$95.9 ₹9,056

439.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$4,066 ₹384.2K

-51.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$534 ₹50.5K

176.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$327 ₹30.9K

84.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.37

-33.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ujjain: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $70.6 in Ujjain. 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 84% 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 $9.00 in Ujjain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $83.0 – making Ujjain 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 Ujjain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 237% more than Ujjain, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $422 in Ujjain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $43.47 in Ujjain. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 190% 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 Ujjain, where all-in costs run around $281, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ujjain 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. Ujjain costs $281 versus $947 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 Ujjain. 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.