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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $314 in Varanasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $517 in Varanasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $720 in Varanasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 172% more than Varanasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Varanasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Varanasi 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.31 ₹220

-11.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$8.96 ₹855

108.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.51 ₹335

123.93%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.50 ₹143

35.33%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.31 ₹29.43

158.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.13 ₹12.42

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.79 ₹171

19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.32 ₹221

58.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.65 ₹61.7

166.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.37 ₹35.28

324.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.52 ₹50.1

130.77%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$0.95 ₹90.4

107.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$3.60 ₹343

350.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.54 ₹242

20.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.52 ₹145

82.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.66 ₹63.0

77.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.88 ₹83.5

94.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.39 ₹36.74

307.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.29 ₹27.87

379.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.27 ₹25.84

329.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.35 ₹33.16

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.29 ₹27.40

79.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.90 ₹277

60.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$5.84 ₹557

204.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.64 ₹157

9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.62 ₹250

27.48%

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

$4.67 ₹445

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.59 ₹56.5

54.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.66 ₹1,016

74.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.20 ₹19.05

605.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.11 ₹10.67

1118.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$1.17 ₹112

593.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.16 ₹110

6.03%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$14.1K ₹1.3M

51.78%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$21.3K ₹2.0M

2.66%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$13.81 ₹1,317

416.51%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.54 ₹338

295.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$5.59 ₹533

220.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$12.28 ₹1,171

232.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.85 ₹558

17.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.97 ₹283

92.59%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$57.5 ₹5,484

436.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$926 ₹88.3K

1485.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$22.97 ₹2,191

142.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$24.51 ₹2,338

6.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$41.19 ₹3,928

105.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$24.96 ₹2,380

184.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$127 ₹12.1K

232.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$52.5 ₹5,007

361.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$252 ₹24.0K

216.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$158 ₹15.0K

221.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$558 ₹53.3K

243.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$331 ₹31.6K

341.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$572 ₹54.6K

4.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.72

-42.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Varanasi: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $127 in Varanasi. 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 4% 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 $9.00 in Varanasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $88.0 – making Varanasi 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 Varanasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 172% more than Varanasi, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $470 in Varanasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $57.5 in Varanasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 178% 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 $314 in Varanasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varanasi costs $314 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 Varanasi. 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.