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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $269 in Vellore, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $477 in Vellore, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $685 in Vellore, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 222% more than Vellore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Vellore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Vellore 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.39 ₹132

39.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.39 ₹704

152.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.40 ₹229

225.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.30 ₹123

50.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.40 ₹37.94

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.15 ₹14.57

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.73 ₹165

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.42 ₹326

9.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.55 ₹52.2

210.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.43 ₹41.37

279.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.69 ₹66.1

65.22%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.84 ₹79.9

129.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$2.03 ₹194

698.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.45 ₹233

27.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.71 ₹163

60.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.72 ₹68.1

68.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.96 ₹91.0

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.32 ₹30.61

396.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.37 ₹34.77

278.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.52 ₹49.87

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.24 ₹22.97

175.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.28 ₹26.84

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.70 ₹162

175.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$3.66 ₹349

409.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.84 ₹175

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.78 ₹265

16.19%

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

$5.74 ₹547

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.28 ₹26.27

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.89 ₹847

116.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.45 ₹42.58

213.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.35 ₹33.71

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.19 ₹113

558.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.20 ₹115

5.83%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$11.2K ₹1.1M

89.89%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$17.0K ₹1.6M

30.60%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$35.59 ₹3,390

94.07%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.44 ₹327

309.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$4.26 ₹406

322.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$8.67 ₹826

373.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.08 ₹484

37.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.29 ₹218

158.52%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$31.38 ₹2,989

852.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,293 ₹123.1K

1056.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$9.39 ₹895

482.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$20.72 ₹1,973

29.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$21.83 ₹2,079

289.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$26.62 ₹2,535

165.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$63.0 ₹5,999

579.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$35.13 ₹3,346

575.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$183 ₹17.5K

336.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$179 ₹17.1K

187.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,104 ₹105.1K

78.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$673 ₹64.1K

119.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$314 ₹29.9K

96.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-23.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vellore: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $63.0 in Vellore. 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 97% 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 $7.00 in Vellore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $81.0 – making Vellore 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 Vellore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 222% more than Vellore, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $403 in Vellore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.38 in Vellore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 204% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $269 in Vellore, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vellore costs $269 versus $866 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 Vellore. 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.