Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yamuna Nagar

For one person, living is cheaper in Yamuna Nagar: $323 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Yamuna Nagar
🇮🇳 India
$323
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Yamuna Nagar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Yamuna Nagar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $323 in Yamuna Nagar, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Yamuna Nagar $323

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $518 in Yamuna Nagar, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Yamuna Nagar $518

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $713 in Yamuna Nagar, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Yamuna Nagar $713

Chiang Mai costs about 191% more than Yamuna Nagar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Yamuna Nagar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Yamuna Nagar 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$1.38 ₹131
63.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$10.34 ₹982
85.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$3.22 ₹306
73.60%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$1.12 ₹106
53.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$0.36 ₹34.51
77.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$0.16 ₹15.54
106.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$2.14 ₹203
10.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$2.35 ₹223
65.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$0.62 ₹58.9
230.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.45 ₹42.81
211.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$0.70 ₹66.5
82.86%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$0.83 ₹79.0
171.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$3.56 ₹338
375.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$2.80 ₹266
-2.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$1.87 ₹178
28.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$0.69 ₹65.9
46.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$0.96 ₹90.9
67.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$0.38 ₹36.53
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.27 ₹25.84
374.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.28 ₹26.32
296.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$0.63 ₹59.6
14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.32 ₹30.51
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$2.42 ₹230
78.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$4.99 ₹474
255.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.63 ₹155
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$2.34 ₹222
21.79%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.72 ₹353
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.25 ₹23.60
240.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$7.67 ₹728
602.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$0.25 ₹23.47
368.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.15 ₹14.34
280.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$2.13 ₹202
11.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$0.96 ₹91.1
51.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$8,213 ₹779.9K
149.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$16.5K ₹1.6M
60.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$31.25 ₹2,967
99.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$4.06 ₹385
202.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$5.96 ₹566
235.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$14.05 ₹1,334
169.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$6.71 ₹637
-43.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$2.47 ₹235
171.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$51.8 ₹4,919
1438.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$1,704 ₹161.8K
770.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$19.91 ₹1,890
167.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$20.98 ₹1,992
19.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$31.22 ₹2,965
193.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$10.55 ₹1,002
596.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$123 ₹11.7K
276.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$72.8 ₹6,909
318.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$262 ₹24.9K
249.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$173 ₹16.5K
218.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$922 ₹87.5K
107.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$519 ₹49.3K
176.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yamuna Nagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$189 ₹18.0K
214.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Yamuna Nagar: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Yamuna Nagar
$73 76.1% $232
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Yamuna Nagar
$91 61.6% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Yamuna Nagar
$37 66% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Yamuna Nagar
$41 56.4% $53
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Yamuna Nagar
$52 34.7% $27
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Yamuna Nagar
$9.7 84.2% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Yamuna Nagar
$19 63% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Yamuna Nagar. 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 215% 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 $10.00 in Yamuna Nagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $91.0 – making Yamuna Nagar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Yamuna Nagar
🕒 Local time
21:31 9:31 PM
20:01 8:01 PM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
217,071
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Yamuna Nagar 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Yamuna Nagar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Yamuna Nagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Yamuna Nagar?
Chiang Mai costs about 191% more than Yamuna Nagar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Yamuna Nagar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $484 in Yamuna Nagar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Yamuna Nagar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yamuna Nagar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Yamuna Nagar?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.8 in Yamuna Nagar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Yamuna Nagar?
Groceries cost about 161% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Yamuna Nagar?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yamuna Nagar, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Yamuna Nagar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Yamuna Nagar?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yamuna Nagar costs $323 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Yamuna Nagar?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Yamuna Nagar?
If budget matters most, go with Yamuna Nagar. 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.

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