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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $289 in Varanasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Varanasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $656 in Varanasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 223% more than Varanasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Varanasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Varanasi 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$1.81 ₹174

14.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$7.95 ₹763

146.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.03 ₹291

87.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.59 ₹153

13.84%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.34 ₹32.94

126.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.09 ₹8.63

288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.54 ₹147

43.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.07 ₹199

83.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.60 ₹57.6

241.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.28 ₹26.44

439.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.53 ₹50.5

164.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.86 ₹82.0

162.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$3.02 ₹289

436.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.23 ₹214

30.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.36 ₹131

97.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.62 ₹59.4

75.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.86 ₹82.1

88.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.35 ₹33.23

317.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.23 ₹22.00

456.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.25 ₹24.06

324.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.42 ₹39.91

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.28 ₹27.04

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.19 ₹306

32.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$5.81 ₹557

214.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.64 ₹157

-0.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.33 ₹224

24.46%

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

$3.96 ₹380

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.51 ₹48.68

72.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$9.42 ₹904

470.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.18 ₹17.64

550.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.11 ₹10.70

427.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.06 ₹102

125.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.08 ₹104

34.26%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$12.4K ₹1.2M

68.85%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$18.6K ₹1.8M

42.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$12.38 ₹1,187

414.14%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.55 ₹340

263.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$6.79 ₹651

202.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$11.05 ₹1,060

253.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$5.08 ₹488

-22.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$2.84 ₹273

131.69%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$38.48 ₹3,691

1937.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$981 ₹94.1K

1394.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$20.95 ₹2,010

163.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$24.64 ₹2,363

0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$36.38 ₹3,490

158.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$25.89 ₹2,484

185.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$111 ₹10.6K

342.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$47.87 ₹4,592

502.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$195 ₹18.7K

356.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$140 ₹13.5K

271.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$568 ₹54.5K

247.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$339 ₹32.5K

325.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$581 ₹55.7K

3.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.53

-34.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Varanasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $111 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Varanasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $81.0 – 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 223% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $433 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $38.48 in Varanasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 198% 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 Varanasi, where all-in costs run around $289, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Varanasi 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. Varanasi costs $289 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 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.