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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $439 in Vijayawada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $715 in Vijayawada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $991 in Vijayawada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 98% more than Vijayawada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Vijayawada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Vijayawada 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.77 ₹168

11.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$11.40 ₹1,084

64.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.70 ₹447

64.89%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.87 ₹368

-50.39%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.49 ₹46.39

61.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.18 ₹17.52

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.31 ₹220

-4.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.54 ₹241

44.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.86 ₹81.4

91.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.56 ₹53.4

191.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.74 ₹70.2

60.81%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.85 ₹80.7

135.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.47 ₹615

146.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.12 ₹297

-2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.18 ₹207

26.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.80 ₹76.1

47.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.95 ₹90.3

72.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.45 ₹42.77

237.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.41 ₹38.58

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.39 ₹36.88

205.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.73 ₹69.6

-4.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.37 ₹34.92

51.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.97 ₹378

15.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.08 ₹578

172.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.56 ₹244

-28.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.18 ₹303

0.63%

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

$4.24 ₹403

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.28 ₹26.45

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$7.22 ₹687

159.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.70 ₹161

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.52 ₹49.58

157.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.37 ₹226

230.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.28 ₹122

-3.91%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$17.7K ₹1.7M

22.04%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.1K ₹2.2M

-2.19%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$27.62 ₹2,627

155.39%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$3.62 ₹344

277.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.12 ₹772

114.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$20.06 ₹1,908

106.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.87 ₹1,129

-41.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.41 ₹324

69.21%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$75.9 ₹7,213

304.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,807 ₹171.9K

708.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.37 ₹2,317

128.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$26.20 ₹2,492

0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$41.19 ₹3,918

108.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$42.90 ₹4,080

68.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$138 ₹13.1K

212.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$85.8 ₹8,155

178.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$319 ₹30.3K

156.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$218 ₹20.7K

134.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$680 ₹64.7K

191.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$387 ₹36.8K

283.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$302 ₹28.7K

104.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.8

-53.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Vijayawada: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $138 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 105% 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 $11.00 in Vijayawada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $118 – 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 98% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $75.9 in Vijayawada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 104% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $439 in Vijayawada, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vijayawada costs $439 versus $869 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.