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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $400 in Vijayawada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $633 in Vijayawada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $866 in Vijayawada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Vijayawada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Vijayawada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Vijayawada 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$1.59 ₹152

32.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$8.93 ₹854

121.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.45 ₹426

31.46%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.77 ₹360

-53.32%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.38 ₹36.10

94.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.16 ₹14.91

106.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.84 ₹176

34.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.22 ₹213

74.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.75 ₹72.1

153.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.52 ₹50.1

221.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.64 ₹61.6

110.94%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$0.80 ₹76.4

167.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$6.46 ₹618

145.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$2.48 ₹237

14.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.87 ₹179

27.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.72 ₹68.5

48.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$0.75 ₹71.7

102.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.46 ₹44.46

226.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.37 ₹35.71

245.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.42 ₹40.01

161.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.66 ₹63.0

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.30 ₹29.03

63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$4.93 ₹472

-13.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$7.45 ₹713

125.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.88 ₹180

-11.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$3.14 ₹301

-10.51%

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

$3.30 ₹315

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.29 ₹27.47

210.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$6.61 ₹633

730.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.60 ₹153

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.43 ₹40.74

25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.14 ₹205

10.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.06 ₹102

34.91%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$15.6K ₹1.5M

34.91%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$20.8K ₹2.0M

30.65%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$32.39 ₹3,099

99.88%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$3.29 ₹315

300.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$8.06 ₹771

141.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$15.85 ₹1,517

148.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$10.91 ₹1,044

-65.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$3.06 ₹293

116.34%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$68.8 ₹6,584

1070.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$1,983 ₹189.8K

662.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$17.94 ₹1,717

205.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$18.57 ₹1,777

36.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$38.20 ₹3,656

140.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$35.70 ₹3,416

109.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$126 ₹12.0K

271.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$78.6 ₹7,523

258.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$289 ₹27.7K

208.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$202 ₹19.4K

157.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$684 ₹65.5K

190.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$407 ₹38.9K

259.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$306 ₹29.3K

93.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.2

-45.39%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Vijayawada: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Vijayawada. 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 93% 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 $9.00 in Vijayawada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $108 – making Vijayawada 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 Vijayawada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 130% more than Vijayawada, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $600 in Vijayawada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $68.8 in Vijayawada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 119% 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 Vijayawada, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Vijayawada 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. Vijayawada costs $400 versus $920 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 Vijayawada. 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.