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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 159.5% more expensive than Varanasi without rent, and 180.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 98.1% more expensive than Varanasi without rent, and 155.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$2.27 ₹209
-10.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$8.61 ₹793
115.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$3.41 ₹314
119.35%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.54 ₹142
29.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.31 ₹28.40
174.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.13 ₹12.30
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.72 ₹158
28.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.34 ₹216
60.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$0.64 ₹58.9
168.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$0.36 ₹33.62
352.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.52 ₹47.53
123.08%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$0.95 ₹87.7
108.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$3.56 ₹328
347.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$2.58 ₹237
22.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$1.52 ₹140
74.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$0.60 ₹55.2
103.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$0.87 ₹79.9
95.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.36 ₹32.87
341.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.27 ₹24.80
388.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$0.25 ₹22.96
368.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.37 ₹34.36
83.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.29 ₹26.66
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.91 ₹268
54.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$6.02 ₹554
216.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.71 ₹157
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$2.70 ₹249
17.78%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.43 ₹408
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.56 ₹51.3
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$10.49 ₹966
80.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$0.20 ₹18.40
580.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.12 ₹11.31
1025.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$1.14 ₹105
604.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.20 ₹111
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$14.2K ₹1.3M
48.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$21.4K ₹2.0M
1.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$13.70 ₹1,261
420.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$3.55 ₹327
296.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$5.37 ₹495
225.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$12.52 ₹1,153
236.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$5.90 ₹543
16.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$2.83 ₹261
109.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$58.2 ₹5,359
428.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$920 ₹84.7K
1508.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$23.67 ₹2,180
135.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$24.34 ₹2,242
10.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$41.32 ₹3,806
101.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$24.77 ₹2,282
183.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$128 ₹11.8K
234.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$52.8 ₹4,867
348.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$244 ₹22.5K
228.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$158 ₹14.5K
219.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$575 ₹53.0K
258.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$349 ₹32.2K
339.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Varanasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$598 ₹55.0K
9.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.72
-42.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Varanasi: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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