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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $377 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $589 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $802 in Visakhapatnam, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Visakhapatnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Visakhapatnam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Visakhapatnam 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$2.14 ₹202

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$8.35 ₹789

135.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.66 ₹440

21.24%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.69 ₹159

7.10%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.34 ₹31.66

108.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.10 ₹9.77

220.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.09 ₹197

7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.03 ₹286

19.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.68 ₹64.1

188.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.54 ₹50.7

177.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.61 ₹57.5

119.67%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$0.86 ₹81.1

162.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$5.67 ₹535

186.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.06 ₹289

-3.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.49 ₹235

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$0.67 ₹63.0

58.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.07 ₹101

50.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.41 ₹38.39

270.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.39 ₹36.95

225.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.36 ₹34.47

197.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.56 ₹52.9

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.32 ₹30.55

59.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.14 ₹485

-18.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$9.18 ₹867

94.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.73 ₹163

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$3.09 ₹292

-8.09%

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

$4.40 ₹415

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.20 ₹18.88

365.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$13.56 ₹1,281

297.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.04 ₹97.8

18.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.18 ₹17.33

222.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$2.66 ₹251

-9.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.12 ₹106

25.89%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$13.4K ₹1.3M

59.94%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$21.9K ₹2.1M

25.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$32.30 ₹3,052

97.12%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$3.50 ₹330

267.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$5.06 ₹478

299.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$18.54 ₹1,751

108.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.41 ₹511

-26.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$2.57 ₹243

162.26%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$50.5 ₹4,771

1440.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$1,546 ₹146.1K

845.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$23.32 ₹2,203

132.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$21.11 ₹1,995

20.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$30.83 ₹2,913

205.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$31.97 ₹3,020

129.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$151 ₹14.3K

223.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$61.4 ₹5,801

371.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$353 ₹33.4K

152.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$149 ₹14.1K

247.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$961 ₹90.8K

103.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$471 ₹44.5K

213.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$355 ₹33.5K

69.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.58

-35.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Visakhapatnam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $151 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 70% 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 $8.00 in Visakhapatnam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $114 – 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 151% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $565 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.5 in Visakhapatnam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 110% 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 Visakhapatnam, where all-in costs run around $377, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Visakhapatnam 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. Visakhapatnam costs $377 versus $947 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.