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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $393 in Varkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $621 in Varkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $849 in Varkala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Varkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Varkala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Varkala 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.35 ₹223

-16.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$10.35 ₹983

81.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.63 ₹345

118.18%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.51 ₹143

26.49%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.41 ₹38.84

104.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.17 ₹16.26

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.70 ₹162

30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.14 ₹298

21.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.66 ₹62.3

148.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.45 ₹42.51

260.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.67 ₹63.2

76.12%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.88 ₹83.5

128.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.86 ₹461

226.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.89 ₹274

4.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.99 ₹189

31.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.74 ₹70.2

64.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.99 ₹93.9

71.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.51 ₹48.32

209.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.35 ₹33.60

277.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.43 ₹40.73

172.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.45 ₹42.60

48.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.32 ₹29.99

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.03 ₹383

12.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.46 ₹708

143.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.69 ₹160

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.81 ₹267

14.95%

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

$5.48 ₹521

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.59

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.47 ₹804

128.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.77 ₹73.2

75.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.27 ₹25.88

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.44 ₹137

472.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.21 ₹115

4.96%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$13.9K ₹1.3M

52.66%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.0K ₹2.1M

2.01%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$38.52 ₹3,657

82.11%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.41 ₹324

303.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.31 ₹694

140.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$15.98 ₹1,517

160.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.21 ₹685

-8.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.95 ₹280

95.93%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$51.1 ₹4,849

499.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,509 ₹143.3K

882.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$24.23 ₹2,301

124.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.67 ₹2,437

1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$41.98 ₹3,985

101.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$30.36 ₹2,883

128.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$122 ₹11.6K

246.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$76.2 ₹7,239

212.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$269 ₹25.5K

206.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$180 ₹17.1K

185.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,055 ₹100.2K

94.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$610 ₹57.9K

149.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.67

-42.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Varkala: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Varkala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Varkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $104 – making Varkala 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 Varkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 117% more than Varkala, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $589 in Varkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.1 in Varkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 135% 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 $393 in Varkala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varkala costs $393 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 Varkala. 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.