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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 100.4% more expensive than Varkala without rent, and 125.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 98.5% more expensive than Varkala without rent, and 116% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$2.36 ₹217
-13.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$10.44 ₹961
78.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$3.47 ₹319
115.56%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.51 ₹139
32.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.40 ₹37.03
112.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.17 ₹16.07
105.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.76 ₹162
25.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$3.05 ₹281
23.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$0.70 ₹64.8
145.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.45 ₹41.31
262.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$0.71 ₹65.8
63.38%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$0.88 ₹81.1
125.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$4.88 ₹449
226.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$2.99 ₹275
6.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.05 ₹189
29.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$0.75 ₹68.6
62.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.01 ₹92.7
68.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$0.53 ₹49.18
200.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$0.35 ₹32.34
277.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$0.45 ₹41.57
160.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.49 ₹44.84
38.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.32 ₹29.41
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$4.05 ₹373
11.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$7.24 ₹666
163.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.79 ₹165
-1.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$2.87 ₹264
10.80%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.40 ₹497
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.28 ₹25.63
242.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$8.53 ₹785
121.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$0.82 ₹75.9
65.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.25 ₹22.92
440.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$1.41 ₹130
469.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.18 ₹108
5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$13.7K ₹1.3M
54.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$21.8K ₹2.0M
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$38.89 ₹3,578
83.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$3.56 ₹327
295.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$7.09 ₹653
146.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$15.78 ₹1,452
166.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
$6.95 ₹639
-1.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$2.85 ₹263
108.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$50.5 ₹4,646
508.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$1,560 ₹143.5K
848.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$24.24 ₹2,230
129.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$25.48 ₹2,344
5.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$42.55 ₹3,915
95.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$30.51 ₹2,807
129.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$125 ₹11.5K
241.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$77.1 ₹7,096
207.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$269 ₹24.8K
197.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$178 ₹16.4K
182.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$1,035 ₹95.2K
99.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$618 ₹56.8K
148.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Varkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.67
-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Varkala: March 2, 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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