Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalyan and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalyan: $438 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kalyan, India
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kalyan
🇮🇳 India
$438
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kalyan and in Chiang Mai

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

A single person spends $438 per month in Kalyan vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalyan $438
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $716 per month in Kalyan vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalyan $716
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $995 per month in Kalyan vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalyan $995
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Kalyan is about 53% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kalyan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalyan 68% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18 ₹302
$2.24 ฿75.6
41.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.74 ₹1,115
$19.00 ฿641
-38.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.15 ₹394
$5.55 ฿187
-25.23%
Cappuccino
$1.79 ₹170
$1.67 ฿56.5
7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹37.72
$0.64 ฿21.54
-37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹12.97
$0.31 ฿10.31
-54.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ₹230
$2.36 ฿79.5
2.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 ₹327
$3.66 ฿124
-6.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 ₹66.4
$1.95 ฿65.7
-64.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 ₹43.88
$1.44 ฿48.46
-68.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ₹63.7
$1.33 ฿45.03
-49.62%
Eggs
$0.90 ₹85.8
$2.28 ฿77.1
-60.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹497
$16.45 ฿555
-68.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 ₹308
$2.78 ฿93.9
16.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.31 ฿314
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ₹193
$2.35 ฿79.4
-13.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 ₹55.8
$0.97 ฿32.79
-39.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 ₹91.6
$1.60 ฿53.9
-40.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹48.39
$1.50 ฿50.6
-66.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹33.59
$1.28 ฿43.11
-72.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.43 ₹41.03
$1.10 ฿37.18
-60.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 ₹41.92
$0.71 ฿23.82
-38.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹28.60
$0.49 ฿16.36
-38.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.75 ₹356
$4.14 ฿140
-9.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₹722
$17.52 ฿591
-56.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹181
$1.61 ฿54.5
18.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ₹290
$2.78 ฿93.9
9.71%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.41 ₹609
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₹17.25
$0.87 ฿29.30
-79.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.57 ₹719
$54.1 ฿1,825
-86.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 ₹52.8
$1.16 ฿39.04
-51.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₹20.91
$0.53 ฿17.80
-58.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 ₹153
$2.42 ฿81.7
-33.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ₹105
$1.45 ฿48.88
-23.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.5K ₹1.1M
$21.1K ฿710.5K
-45.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.1M
$26.9K ฿909.0K
-17.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.42 ₹3,458
$62.2 ฿2,098
-41.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40 ₹418
$12.17 ฿411
-63.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.30 ₹598
$20.12 ฿679
-68.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.02 ₹1,141
$37.31 ฿1,259
-67.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.23 ₹1,066
$3.77 ฿127
197.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 ₹290
$6.49 ฿219
-53.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$72.5 ₹6,882
$736 ฿24.8K
-90.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,478 ₹140.4K
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-89.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.90 ₹2,079
$53.4 ฿1,801
-58.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.01 ₹2,375
$24.64 ฿831
1.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.51 ₹3,847
$91.5 ฿3,087
-55.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.22 ₹3,154
$71.9 ฿2,427
-53.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$182 ₹17.3K
$482 ฿16.3K
-62.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 ₹11.4K
$309 ฿10.4K
-61.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$448 ₹42.6K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-55.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 ₹29.1K
$633 ฿21.4K
-51.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,505 ₹142.9K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-36.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$948 ₹90.0K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-40.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$574 ₹54.5K
$590 ฿19.9K
-2.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.77
5.57
57.45%

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

Last update for Kalyan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kalyan
$120
Chiang Mai
$309 158% $189
Groceries & Markets
Kalyan
$108
Chiang Mai
$234 117% $126
Eating Out
Kalyan
$81
Chiang Mai
$78 3.7% $3
Clothing & Footwear
Kalyan
$54
Chiang Mai
$109 100% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalyan
$47
Chiang Mai
$94 101% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Kalyan
$18
Chiang Mai
$50 178% $32
Getting Around
Kalyan
$10
Chiang Mai
$61 516% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $182 in Kalyan versus $482 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 3% 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 $12 in Kalyan versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $234 – making Kalyan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Kalyan
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
00:06 12:06 AM
01:36 1:36 AM
1 h 30 min ahead of Kalyan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,262,255
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 94.95 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kalyan Chiang Mai 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kalyan
  • Chiang Mai

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
Kalyan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalyan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 114% more than Kalyan, 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 Kalyan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $657 per month in Kalyan and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalyan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalyan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $182 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalyan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $72 per month in Kalyan and $736 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 Kalyan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 117% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Kalyan or in Chiang Mai?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kalyan, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Kalyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kalyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Kalyan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kalyan. If higher salaries 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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