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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $369 in Unnao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $595 in Unnao, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $820 in Unnao, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Unnao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Unnao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Unnao 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$0.61 ₹58.4

240.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$15.59 ₹1,495

25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.72 ₹357

52.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.94 ₹186

-6.70%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.44 ₹42.63

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.12 ₹11.77

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.05 ₹197

7.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.56 ₹245

48.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.64 ₹61.7

220.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.52 ₹50.3

190.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.41 ₹39.38

241.46%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.03 ₹98.6

119.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$2.74 ₹263

490.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.29 ₹412

-32.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.22 ₹117

119.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.53 ₹51.3

105.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.50 ₹47.72

224.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.33 ₹31.64

342.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.32 ₹31.15

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.32 ₹30.77

231.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.84 ₹80.3

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.27 ₹26.12

96.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.05 ₹484

-16.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$7.40 ₹710

147.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.43 ₹137

13.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.64 ₹253

9.85%

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

$7.32 ₹703

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.25 ₹23.71

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$7.04 ₹675

663.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.32 ₹30.71

265.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.10 ₹9.43

480.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.28 ₹122

86.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.01 ₹97.3

43.56%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$10.3K ₹988.1K

103.98%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$18.8K ₹1.8M

40.20%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$52.0 ₹4,991

22.33%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.41 ₹327

278.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$6.69 ₹641

206.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$14.27 ₹1,369

173.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$6.30 ₹604

-37.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$1.02 ₹98.3

545.10%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$35.19 ₹3,375

2127.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$631 ₹60.5K

2226.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$33.37 ₹3,201

65.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$19.38 ₹1,859

27.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$49.90 ₹4,786

88.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$27.29 ₹2,618

171.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$112 ₹10.8K

336.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$83.8 ₹8,038

243.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$304 ₹29.1K

193.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$171 ₹16.4K

205.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$982 ₹94.2K

101.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$496 ₹47.6K

191.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$260 ₹24.9K

131.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.33

-33.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Unnao: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $112 in Unnao. 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 132% 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 $16.00 in Unnao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $96.0 – making Unnao 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 Unnao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Unnao, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $554 in Unnao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $35.19 in Unnao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 152% 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 Unnao, where all-in costs run around $369, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Unnao 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. Unnao costs $369 versus $932 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 Unnao. 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.