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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $307 in Varanasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $511 in Varanasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $714 in Varanasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 176% 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 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$2.38 ₹225

-17.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$8.60 ₹813

113.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$3.39 ₹321

132.15%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.53 ₹145

27.45%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.31 ₹29.28

174.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.12 ₹11.34

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$1.71 ₹162

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.27 ₹214

62.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.65 ₹61.4

155.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.36 ₹34.35

333.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$0.52 ₹49.04

128.85%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$0.89 ₹84.2

123.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$3.60 ₹340

351.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$2.57 ₹243

23.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.53 ₹145

73.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$0.65 ₹61.2

87.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$0.92 ₹87.3

79.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.36 ₹34.02

330.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.29 ₹27.69

358.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.25 ₹23.55

384.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.35 ₹33.11

94.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.29 ₹26.98

96.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$2.83 ₹267

65.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$5.66 ₹536

200.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.74 ₹164

4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.59 ₹245

22.78%

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

$4.65 ₹440

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.61 ₹57.3

49.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$10.37 ₹981

80.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.22 ₹20.83

540.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.12 ₹10.97

1016.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$1.18 ₹111

589.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.21 ₹115

5.79%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

56.69%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$21.2K ₹2.0M

5.50%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$13.93 ₹1,318

405.96%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$3.64 ₹344

285.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$5.37 ₹508

228.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$12.36 ₹1,170

234.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$5.85 ₹554

15.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$3.00 ₹284

98.67%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$58.1 ₹5,500

421.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$927 ₹87.7K

1513.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$23.35 ₹2,209

134.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$24.60 ₹2,327

6.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$41.36 ₹3,913

107.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$25.04 ₹2,368

178.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$126 ₹11.9K

240.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$52.7 ₹4,990

353.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$251 ₹23.7K

223.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$157 ₹14.8K

225.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$579 ₹54.8K

249.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$347 ₹32.8K

332.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$590 ₹55.8K

5.60%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Varanasi: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 6% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Varanasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 176% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $460 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $58.1 in Varanasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 176% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $307 in Varanasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varanasi costs $307 versus $848 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.