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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $361 in Unnao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Unnao, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $781 in Unnao, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 136% more than Unnao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Unnao are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Unnao 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$0.68 ₹65.0

188.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$11.59 ₹1,100

62.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.56 ₹338

122.47%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.49 ₹142

28.19%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.27 ₹25.45

211.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.12 ₹11.33

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.42 ₹134

55.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.17 ₹206

75.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.72 ₹68.8

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.40 ₹37.76

305.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.47 ₹44.27

151.06%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.95 ₹90.5

111.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$3.08 ₹293

415.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.77 ₹263

8.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.42 ₹134

83.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.55 ₹52.6

121.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.56 ₹53.5

203.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.36 ₹34.34

338.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.26 ₹24.92

407.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.33 ₹31.68

254.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.67 ₹64.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.30 ₹28.76

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.87 ₹367

17.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.32 ₹790

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.66 ₹158

10.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.30 ₹314

-2.12%

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

$5.59 ₹531

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.50

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.96 ₹850

116.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.60 ₹57.0

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.11 ₹10.54

1127.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.15 ₹109

617.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.14 ₹108

11.40%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$11.5K ₹1.1M

83.28%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$16.5K ₹1.6M

36.49%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$51.1 ₹4,848

37.39%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.26 ₹310

322.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.46 ₹518

222.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.05 ₹1,524

159.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.09 ₹673

-6.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$1.18 ₹112

389.83%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$36.46 ₹3,461

739.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$685 ₹65.0K

2063.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$23.67 ₹2,247

129.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$31.22 ₹2,964

-16.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$39.99 ₹3,796

111.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$18.46 ₹1,752

276.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$124 ₹11.8K

241.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$77.3 ₹7,340

208.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$269 ₹25.5K

206.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$177 ₹16.8K

190.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$943 ₹89.5K

117.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$512 ₹48.6K

197.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$262 ₹24.9K

142.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.49

-41.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Unnao: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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 142% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Unnao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $94.0 – 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 136% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $542 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $36.46 in Unnao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 159% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $361 in Unnao, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Unnao costs $361 versus $852 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.