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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $429 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $951 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Visakhapatnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Visakhapatnam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Visakhapatnam 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.52 ₹241

-23.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$13.02 ₹1,246

43.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.29 ₹410

82.28%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.58 ₹151

23.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.36 ₹34.42

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.10 ₹9.57

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.11 ₹202

0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.51 ₹336

6.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.76 ₹72.4

125.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.57 ₹54.9

185.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.82 ₹78.2

39.02%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$0.98 ₹93.9

96.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.17 ₹495

213.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.48 ₹333

-10.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.89 ₹277

-4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.78 ₹74.2

55.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.31 ₹125

23.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.55 ₹52.7

189.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.56 ₹53.4

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.58 ₹55.4

101.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.72 ₹69.3

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.35 ₹33.54

51.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.27 ₹408

9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.03 ₹865

106.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.97 ₹188

-8.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.62 ₹347

-10.77%

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

$4.81 ₹461

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.28 ₹26.70

221.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$19.37 ₹1,854

-0.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.43 ₹137

-1.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.21 ₹20.04

514.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.29 ₹220

242.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.26 ₹120

0.79%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$15.2K ₹1.5M

40.39%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$24.2K ₹2.3M

-8.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$37.25 ₹3,565

85.42%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.69 ₹353

281.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.60 ₹536

221.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$17.11 ₹1,637

139.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.65 ₹1,115

-40.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.17 ₹303

86.75%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$65.8 ₹6,298

354.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,730 ₹165.6K

764.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$30.09 ₹2,879

81.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$28.37 ₹2,714

-5.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$37.35 ₹3,574

127.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$37.32 ₹3,572

89.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$142 ₹13.6K

202.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$81.4 ₹7,790

191.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$383 ₹36.6K

109.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$194 ₹18.5K

166.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$927 ₹88.7K

113.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$470 ₹45.0K

213.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$351 ₹33.5K

76.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.3

-39.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Visakhapatnam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $142 in Visakhapatnam. 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 76% 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 $13.00 in Visakhapatnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $126 – making Visakhapatnam 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 Visakhapatnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Visakhapatnam, 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 $644 in Visakhapatnam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Visakhapatnam, 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 $65.8 in Visakhapatnam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 96% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $429 in Visakhapatnam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Visakhapatnam costs $429 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 Visakhapatnam. 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.