🙂A single person spends $459 per month in Hyderabad vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $699 per month in Hyderabad vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $939 per month in Hyderabad vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Hyderabad is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hyderabad and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hyderabad66% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 504
$1.96฿65.9
-7.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.42PKR 2,894
$18.35฿617
-43.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.05PKR 1,124
$7.48฿252
-45.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00PKR 556
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26PKR 1,462
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.93PKR 259
$2.02฿67.8
-53.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$0.85฿28.52
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.1
$0.36฿11.97
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73PKR 203
$1.65฿55.5
-55.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50PKR 139
$1.57฿52.7
-68.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16PKR 323
$1.19฿40.05
-2.52%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 308
$1.94฿65.1
-42.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.05PKR 1,681
$16.19฿545
-62.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.71PKR 752
$2.99฿101
-9.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.18PKR 1,161
$10.94฿368
-61.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08PKR 301
$2.71฿91.2
-60.15%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.17฿39.27
-52.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87PKR 241
$1.69฿56.8
-48.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 144
$1.60฿54.0
-67.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36PKR 98.7
$1.38฿46.56
-73.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PKR 140
$1.20฿40.47
-57.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39PKR 107
$0.67฿22.51
-41.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44PKR 122
$0.56฿18.74
-21.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.88PKR 245
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25PKR 348
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09PKR 580
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17PKR 603
$4.64฿156
-53.23%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15PKR 42.60
$0.88฿29.70
-82.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.50PKR 2,638
$19.34฿651
-50.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65PKR 180
$1.36฿45.92
-52.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.20PKR 55.1
$1.34฿45.00
-85.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.72PKR 200
$8.21฿276
-91.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88PKR 244
$1.22฿41.20
-27.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KPKR 4.7M
$21.4K฿718.5K
-21.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
$22.5K฿758.1K
1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135PKR 37.4K
$70.7฿2,378
90.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.61PKR 1,280
$14.04฿472
-67.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.27PKR 3,686
$17.49฿589
-24.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.84PKR 5,787
$42.15฿1,418
-50.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.45PKR 959
$6.88฿231
-49.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51PKR 976
$5.92฿199
-40.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$41.17PKR 11.4K
$309฿10.4K
-86.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,109PKR 307.9K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-92.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.58PKR 4,881
$55.8฿1,876
-68.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.02PKR 6,947
$26.11฿879
-4.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.6PKR 17.9K
$83.0฿2,793
-22.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.40PKR 10.1K
$70.5฿2,371
-48.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118PKR 32.8K
$432฿14.5K
-72.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$68.0PKR 18.9K
$239฿8,040
-71.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294PKR 81.7K
$822฿27.7K
-64.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194PKR 54.0K
$512฿17.2K
-62.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$590PKR 163.7K
$1,915฿64.4K
-69.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$196PKR 54.4K
$1,467฿49.4K
-86.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hyderabad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$174PKR 48.4K
$579฿19.5K
-69.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5
200.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hyderabad: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Hyderabad versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 232% 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 $10.00 in Hyderabad versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $243 – making Hyderabad 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
Hyderabad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hyderabad or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 88% more than Hyderabad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Hyderabad and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $688 per month in Hyderabad and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hyderabad or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hyderabad, 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 Hyderabad and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $41.17 per month in Hyderabad and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Hyderabad or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 173% 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 $800/month in Hyderabad or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $459 in Hyderabad and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hyderabad or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hyderabad costs $459 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hyderabad compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Hyderabad or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Hyderabad. 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.